All articles tagged with #st peters basilica
Pope Leo XIV marked the end of the Jubilee Year of Hope by closing the Holy Door during the Epiphany Mass at St Peter’s Basilica, reflecting on the themes of hope, divine manifestation, and the ongoing search for God in today's world, emphasizing that true hope and renewal come from humility and openness to God's presence.
Pope Leo XIV will close the Holy Door of St Peter’s Basilica on January 6, 2026, marking the end of the Holy Year 2024-2025. The ceremony involves the physical closing of the door leaves during a solemn Mass, followed by a private walling-up of the door with a brick wall and a capsule containing the Jubilee record, coins, and keys. This tradition signifies the conclusion of the Holy Year, while God's mercy remains open.
Rome hosts a Jubilee of Youth with one million young pilgrims from 146 countries gathering at key sites like St. Peter’s Basilica, Circus Maximus, and Tor Vergata, symbolizing the connection between the city's historical and spiritual centers and its peripheries, emphasizing faith, hope, and community.
The Vatican has announced new initiatives for the 2025 Jubilee Year, including a live webcam of St. Peter's tomb and a new monthly magazine, "Piazza San Pietro," featuring a "Letters to the Editor" column with responses from Pope Francis. The magazine will be available in English, Spanish, and Italian, and can be purchased at St. Peter's Basilica or via subscription. Additionally, a multipurpose room for press events and a new custom font for the basilica's rebranding are planned.
A purification rite was held at St. Peter's Basilica after a Polish man stood naked on the main altar to protest against the war in Ukraine. The man was handed over to Italian police and detained. The prayer service was led by the basilica's archpriest, Cardinal Mauro Gambetti, who said the man had committed a sinful and "inappropriate, truly regrettable gesture" to bring attention to the victims of war.
A man stripped naked and jumped on the main altar of St. Peter's Basilica with the words "Save children of Ukraina" written on his back. The head of the basilica, Cardinal Mauro Gambetti, performed a penitential rite to restore the altar. The man was handed over to Italian police and issued an expulsion order. This is the latest incident of disturbances at the Vatican in recent months.
A man stripped naked and jumped on the main altar of St. Peter's Basilica with the words "Save children of Ukraina" written on his back. Cardinal Mauro Gambetti performed a penitential rite to restore the altar. The man was handed over to Italian police and issued an expulsion order requiring him to leave Italy. This incident is the latest in a series of disturbances at the Vatican in recent months.
Pope Francis returned to public view after recovering from bronchitis to preside over Easter vigil Mass in St. Peter's Basilica. The 86-year-old pope arrived in a wheelchair and incised a cross on a tall candle before it was carried up the basilica's center aisle. The basilica Mass during the vigil of Christianity's most important day has become an occasion for pontiffs to baptize several adults from around the world.