Vatican to open sacred portals starting Christmas Eve to save Catholics from eternal damnation
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The Vatican is set to open five sacred portals starting on Christmas Eve for the first time in 25 years. The opening of the Holy Doors marks the beginning of the 2025 Jubilee which is a year of forgiveness, reconciliation and renewed focus on the spiritual life.
![[The Catholic church began the ritual on December 2, praying at the door in St Peter's Basilica and removing a metal box (pictured)that held a key, which was followed by ceremonies at the other four doors]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/09/15/92959021-14173747-image-a-2_1733757574420.jpg)
According to church teaching, Catholics who confess their sins during this time are forgiven and therefore released from the eternal or spiritual punishment of damnation. At the start of Christmas Eve Mass, Pope Francis will push open the Holy Door in St Peter’s Basilica, which will stay open throughout the year to allow the estimated 32 million pilgrims projected to visit Rome to pass through.
![[The first Holy Door was opened in 1425, the archbasilica of St. John Lateran. This is the oldest church in Rome being built in 324 AD.]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/09/18/92963369-14173747-The_first_Holy_Door_was_opened_in_1425_the_archbasilica_of_St_Jo-a-20_1733767598637.jpg)
Catholics worldwide can watch the ritual unfold starting at 1pm ET as a web camera has been installed on St Peter's door. Pope Francis has invited Catholics to focus on hope as the world suffers from the impacts of war, the ongoing effects of COVID-19 pandemic and the climate crisis.
![[The Basilica of Saint Paul is the second largest basilica after St Peter's and is believed to be the burial site of St Paul. It has been a pilgrimage destination since 300AD]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/09/18/92963365-14173747-The_Basilica_of_Saint_Paul_is_the_second_largest_basilica_after_-a-19_1733767598635.jpg)
The doors are located at the basilicas of St Peter, St John Lateran, St Mary Major and St Paul Outside the Walls, which are all within a 30 minute drive of the Vatican in Italy. For the first time, the Pope will also being opening on at the Rebibbia prison, Italy's largest correction facility, but as delivering a message of hope to prisoners.
![[The process involves removing the brick wall that covers the door (pictured inside St Peter's) from the inside of the basilica, followed by the Pope pushing the door open to signal the beginning of the Holy Year]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/09/18/92959023-14173747-The_process_involves_removing_the_brick_wall_that_covers_the_doo-a-23_1733767598887.jpg)
St Peter's is deemed one of the holiest sites of Christianity. Its construction started in the 4th century when Roman Emperor Constantine decides to build a basilica where the apostle had been buried. The Catholic church began the ritual on December 2, praying at the door in St Peter's Basilica and removing a metal box (pictured)that held a key, which was followed by ceremonies at the other four doors.
![[The basilica of St Mary Major was tied to the Council of Ephesus of 431 AD, which proclaimed Mary Theotokos, which is Greek for 'Mother of God']](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/09/18/92963361-14173747-The_basilica_of_St_Mary_Major_was_tied_to_the_Council_of_Ephesus-a-21_1733767598728.jpg)
