The article by Rockwin Prakash Pinto, PhD student at Accademia Alfonsiana, published on the Academy Blog .
This post continues the series on the keywords of Jubilee 2025, conceived in dialogic form: a first contribution by a professor of the Alfonsianum is followed by a second contribution written by a student. Second keyword: Door – Post 2/2.
«Behold, I stand at the door and knock» (Rev 3:20) were the words that echoed in my heart as I witnessed on TV the opening of the Holy Door by the Roman Pontiff, through the symbolic gesture of knocking, who is a “bridge” between God and His people as he represents Christ as His vicarius as well as vicarius Petri representing the “forgiven community” of those who are baptised and washed by the blood of Christ (1Cor 6:11). The ecclesiological reading of the text, as briefly illustrated by prof. Belinski, describing it as the door that leads into an edifice which gathers a community prepared for “moral conversion” to partake in the meal offered by Christ. It is nothing but the sustenance offered by the Church through the spiritual goods in its Sacraments of Reconciliation and Eucharist. Hence, “passing” through the Holy Doors is a significant moment for those who believe in the Risen Christ. The jubilee year will result in flocking of pilgrims from different faces of pilgrim church due to two important signs i.e. pilgrimage and indulgence. In fact, these are the goals of all important events planned for Jubilee 2025 beginning with the communication professionals at the end of January.
As already reported one can testify along the Via della Conciliazione renovated for this special occasion, just in the first two weeks of jubilee, half a million pilgrims led by jubilee cross have already passed through the most representative door of jubilee that of St Peter’s Basilica, the church built upon the tomb of St Peter the “rock” on which Jesus desired to build his Church. Interestingly, the ritual of crossing the threshold of Holy Door was not part of jubilee in the beginning though, as per sources, it was commenced by Pope Martin V in 1423 at the Basilica of St. John Lateran and in 1499 the Holy Doors were opened at the other basilicas including at Peter’s by Pope Alexander VI.
It may go unnoticed, however, the bronze Holy Door of St Peter’s can speak volumes on the meaning of jubilee and its significance for everyone who passes through its threshold gently touching and kissing it. As the Holy Scriptures narrate the door closed by God of the paradise, therefore, the “hope lost” in Genesis is revived by the advent of Christ in human flesh, an event that the holy Jubilee commemorates, to be culminated in the “opening of 12 doors” of the heavenly Jerusalem (Rev 21:12-13). This is well depicted in the 16 panels of the St Peter’s Holy Door, where the first two panels represent “hope lost”, the next 13 panels the salvation offered by the “unique” event of Christ and finally, the sixteenth panel figures Pope Pius XII opening the Holy Door accompanied with the words of Rev 3:20, where Christ knocks at the door of each one’s heart and wants to “dwell and dine” with those who open their hearts to Him. The 12th panel which records the dialogue of Jesus with “good thief” adds meaning to the gesture of Pope Francis this year, opening a “special Holy Door” at the Rebibbia prison of Rome offering them a message of hope. The present door of Jubilee inaugurated in 1950, reflects the human misery inflicted by the wars and the world that looks towards the Church awaiting a message of hope.
Finally, all the doors may not guide humans to life always. For instance, the digital portals, as a doorway through web to the world, may lead us to hope or despair, life or death, light or darkness as every door is not holy that leads to enduring bliss. Further, these portals guided by more advanced algorithms may keep people “engaged” for benefit of some but information is not truth, easy accessibility is not freedom and simplified answers are not life-giving because the door to life is “narrow”. (Mt 7:13ff; Lk 13:24) The Holy Door evokes Jesus as the “only door that leads to life” as He is the “unique” mediator (Jn 10:9) and everyone who enters the Church through this Holy Door with heart open to Christ becomes “living stone” of kingdom of God on earth for others (1Pt 2:4-5).
References:
- V. Noè, The Holy Door in St. Peter, ATS Italia Editrice, Roma 1999. This book authored by the French cardinal describes all the sixteen panels of St Peter’s Holy Door.
- R. Fisichella, I segni del giubileo. Il pellegrinaggio, la città di Pietro e Paolo, la Porta Santa, la professione di fede, la carità, l’indulgenza, San Paolo, Cinisello Balsamo, MI 2015, 85-98.
- F. Merlo, «Half a million pilgrims have already crossed the threshold of St Peter’s Holy Door», www.vaticannews.va, 7 January 2025, in https://www.vaticannews.va/en/vatican-city/news/2025-01/half-a-million-pilgrims-have-crossed-the-holy-door-in-st-peter-s.html [accessed on 08-01-2025].
- A. Lomonaco, «Popes and Jubilees. The opening of the Holy Door in history», www.vaticannews.va, 24 December 2024, in https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2024-12/popes-jubilees-holy-door-history.html [accessed on 09-01-2025].
- Biblical references are from English Standard Version (ESV).
