Pope Francis has launched his yearlong push for a global Catholic church of mercy and forgiveness, starting the Jubilee year focused on the subject by opening the holy door at St. Peter’s Basilica and calling for a church that always puts mercy before judgment. In a solemn Mass attended by tens of thousands, the pontiff also praised the work of the Second Vatican Council and said the newly-opened Jubilee "compels us not to neglect the spirit which emerged" from that event.
"This Extraordinary Holy Year is itself a gift of grace," Francis said during the homily at the Mass. "To enter through the Holy Door means to rediscover the deepness of the mercy of the Father who welcomes all and goes out to meet everyone personally."
"How much wrong we do to God and his grace when we affirm that sins are punished by his judgment before putting first that they are forgiven by his mercy!" the pope exhorted. “It is truly so," he said. "We have to put mercy before judgment, and in every case God’s judgment will always be in the light of his mercy. Let us abandon all fear and dread, for these do not befit men and women who are loved," said Francis. "Instead, let us live the joy of encounter with the grace that transforms all."
A Jubilee year is a special year called by the Catholic church to receive blessing and pardon from God and remission of sins. While most Jubilees have been focused on calling pilgrims to Rome to receive such a pardon, Pope Francis has widely expanded this Jubilee, asking that dioceses throughout the world open their own holy door at a cathedral or other church to expand the practice globally.
Bishop Lennon opened the year of mercy last Saturday with the blessing and opening of the cathedral doors of St. John. A holy door is a door normally designated in special churches -- like the four papal basilicas in Rome -- to be opened only during Jubilee years as a sign of the possibility of re-entering into God’s grace. Francis opened the holy door in St. Peter's Basilica towards the end of the Mass Tuesday. Standing in front of the door, located at the northeast corner of the Vatican basilica, the pontiff asked God to grant "a year of grace, a favorable time to love you and our brothers and sisters in the joy of the Gospel."
"This Extraordinary Holy Year is itself a gift of grace," Francis said during the homily at the Mass. "To enter through the Holy Door means to rediscover the deepness of the mercy of the Father who welcomes all and goes out to meet everyone personally."
"How much wrong we do to God and his grace when we affirm that sins are punished by his judgment before putting first that they are forgiven by his mercy!" the pope exhorted. “It is truly so," he said. "We have to put mercy before judgment, and in every case God’s judgment will always be in the light of his mercy. Let us abandon all fear and dread, for these do not befit men and women who are loved," said Francis. "Instead, let us live the joy of encounter with the grace that transforms all."
A Jubilee year is a special year called by the Catholic church to receive blessing and pardon from God and remission of sins. While most Jubilees have been focused on calling pilgrims to Rome to receive such a pardon, Pope Francis has widely expanded this Jubilee, asking that dioceses throughout the world open their own holy door at a cathedral or other church to expand the practice globally.
Bishop Lennon opened the year of mercy last Saturday with the blessing and opening of the cathedral doors of St. John. A holy door is a door normally designated in special churches -- like the four papal basilicas in Rome -- to be opened only during Jubilee years as a sign of the possibility of re-entering into God’s grace. Francis opened the holy door in St. Peter's Basilica towards the end of the Mass Tuesday. Standing in front of the door, located at the northeast corner of the Vatican basilica, the pontiff asked God to grant "a year of grace, a favorable time to love you and our brothers and sisters in the joy of the Gospel."
Calling Jesus "the shining face of your infinite mercy, safe refuge for us sinners, needing of forgiveness and peace" and saying that Christ is the door "through which we come to [God]," the pope pushed the door open slowly with both hands while walking through.
Retired Pope Benedict XVI, was the second person to follow Francis through the door, and the two pontiffs embraced and spoke briefly, both before and after the opening of the threshold.
Both Francis’ homily at the Mass and the ceremony itself also paid tribute to the Second Vatican Council, which officially closed its work on Dec. 8, 1965 exactly 50 years ago from that date.
The Eucharistic celebrationTuesday was opened with readings of excerpts from the Council’s four constitutions and its documents on ecumenism and religious liberty. In his homily, Francis said the Council documents "verify the great advance in faith" made at the event.
-Father Doug Koesel
Retired Pope Benedict XVI, was the second person to follow Francis through the door, and the two pontiffs embraced and spoke briefly, both before and after the opening of the threshold.
Both Francis’ homily at the Mass and the ceremony itself also paid tribute to the Second Vatican Council, which officially closed its work on Dec. 8, 1965 exactly 50 years ago from that date.
The Eucharistic celebrationTuesday was opened with readings of excerpts from the Council’s four constitutions and its documents on ecumenism and religious liberty. In his homily, Francis said the Council documents "verify the great advance in faith" made at the event.
-Father Doug Koesel
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