Jubilee Year Of Mercy In Rome

 One of my objectives in visiting Rome this year was to visit the four major Papal Basilicas in the Vatican City and around Rome to pass through the Holy Doors which are opened during the Jubilee Year of Mercy. This was declared by Pope Francis during the Pope's papal bull in April 2015 and occurs from the feast of the Immaculate Concepcion on 8 December 2015 to the feast of Christ the King on 20 November 2016. During this time, the Holy Doors, known as porta santa, are open in designated Roman Catholic churches around the world. The opening of the Holy Doors occur every 25 years. The pilgrim and the faithful gain some mercy and indulgences by passing through the door, by performing some prayers and confession of sins. This whole experience is free and involves the willingness and determination of the faithful to obtain mercy and to practice mercy towards others. 

I was only able to visit 3 Papal Basilicas. One of them is the Basilica di San Pietro at the Vatican. 

I was not able to visit the other Basilica of St Paul's Outside the Walls because it was quite far from the historic centre of Rome. 

 

 

 

 

 Finally, I was able to visit the tomb of St. Pope John Paul II now moved inside the Basilica di San Pietro. 

Another Papal Basilica I visited was the St. John the Lateran. 

This is the first Christian church in Christiandom built by Emperor Constantine.

 

Porta Santa at the Basilica of  St John the Lateran. 

 

 

 

Above the altar is the relic of the table used by Jesus during the last supper. 

St. Helena, the mother of Emperor Constantine, obtained major relics from Jerusalem and moved them around Rome to save them from destruction. 

 

One of my favourite church to visit in Rome is the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore. 

 

Porta santa at the Basilica. 

 

The Holy Doors is declared open by the Pope only and occurs every 25 yrs. For the faithful, they will be lucky to pass through the Holy Doors once in their lifetime to earn indulgences and mercy. 

 

 

 

Merciful Like The Father. 

- Jubilee Year of Mercy