The pope opened the Jubilee Holy Doors praying that the Holy Spirit would soften hearts so that "enemies may speak to each other again."

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.

Pope Francis made a visit on Thursday to one of the largest prison complexes in Italy, opening a special "Holy Door" for the 2025 Catholic Holy Year, in what the Vatican said was the first such action by a Catholic pontiff.

During the first days of the 2025 Jubilee, all attention will understandably be focused on the opening of the Holy Doors in the papal basilicas of Rome. Only opened during the various jubilees, there are several churches in Italy and around the world that have a Holy Door,

Pope Francis kicked off the 2025 Jubilee of the Catholic Church on Tuesday, Christmas Eve, by opening the 'Holy Door' of St Peter's Basilica, before a crowd of thousands of faithful. Premier Giorgia Meloni was among the officials present.

Holy Year, themed around hope and trust, has begun with the Pope opening the Holy Door at St. Peter’s Basilica, as Rome prepares for 30 million pilgrims with heightened security and ongoing renovations.

The Pope chose to open the Holy Door at the Rebibbia prison in Italy as his second of five doors during the 2025 Jubilee for this reason.

Pope Francis inaugurated his Holy Year at Rome’s main prison on Thursday, bringing a message of hope to inmates and involving them in the Catholic Church’s once every quarter-century celebration that is expected to bring about 32 million pilgrims to Rome.