He made the remarks a day after the start of Roman Catholic Church’s Holy Year, known as a Jubilee, which takes place every quarter century. On Tuesday evening, Francis opened the Holy Door in St. Peter’s Basilica so that the first pilgrims could go through. Millions more are expected to follow over the year.

Pope Francis kicked off the 2025 Holy Year on Tuesday, inaugurating a celebration of the Catholic Church that is expected to draw some 32 million pilgrims to Rome in a test of the pope's stamina and the ability of the Eternal City to welcome them.

Hope lives, Francis reminded the faithful on Christmas Eve, as he spoke of the blessed arrival of the Christ Child and the start of the Jubilee.

Pope Francis opened the "Holy Door" of St Peter's Basilica on Christmas Eve on Tuesday, launching the Jubilee year of Catholic celebrations set to draw more than 30 million pilgrims to Rome.Pope Francis then presided over the Christmas Eve mass in St Peter's,

Pope Francis holds Christmas Eve mass Pope Francis holds a Christmas Eve mass in St. Peter's Basilica and opens bronze door of St. Peter's Basilica kicking off the jubilee year. #Reuters #PopeFrancis #Christmas #mass #live #news #ChristmasEve Read the story here: 👉 Subscribe: Keep up with the latest news from around the world: Follow Reuters

Pope Francis is set to open the Holy Year of the Catholic Church in St Peter’s Basilica on Tuesday evening. The 88-year-old pontiff in a solemn ceremony on Christmas Eve will open the Holy Door, which is otherwise walled up from the inside,

The service, which originally took place at midnight, now begins much earlier in the evening The post How to Watch the Pope’s Christmas Eve Mass appeared first on TheWrap.