Even in death, Pope Francis remained a trailblazer — becoming the only pontiff to open, but not close, the Holy Door of St. Peter’s Basilica in what has become a fateful symbol of his papal legacy.

The Jubilee begins with a symbolic moment: the Pope opening the Holy Door, which this year took place on Christmas Eve. The tradition, dating back to the 15th century, sees the Pope open the Holy Door ...

The rite of opening the Holy Doors of the main basilicas of Rome to inaugurate the 2025 Jubilee Year is perhaps one of the most solemn events of the Catholic Church, with centuries of tradition. The ...

With his death April 21, Pope Francis marked yet another first in the history of the Catholic Church: he became the first pope to open the Holy Door of St. Peter’s Basilica without living to close it.

We wanted to hear stories of hope: conversions, answered prayers, graces received, and even miracles experienced in the ...

After breaking open the special door on Christmas Eve, Francis stopped at the threshold to pray briefly in silence as the bells of St. Peter’s Basilica pealed out into the cool Rome night. Pope ...

The first Holy Door will be opened by Pope Francis at St. Peter’s Basilica on Christmas Eve this year to usher in the beginning of the Jubilee Year worldwide. Pope Francis opens the Holy Door in ...

Pope Francis will open a Holy Door in Rome’s Rebibbia prison on Dec. 26, the feast day of St. Stephen. It will be the second of five Holy Doors the Holy Father will open during the 2025 Jubilee Year ...

Pope Francis has declared 2025 to be a Jubilee year for the Catholic Church. NPR's Ayesha Rascoe speaks with Claire Giangravé from the Religion News Service about the tradition. Today, Pope Francis ...