Discover the mercy and tenderness of God - Pope Francis opens the Jubilee of Mercy - Rome Reports

The Irish Times

“You are the door through which we come to thee, inexhaustible source of consolation for everyone . . .”

With those words, Pope Francis on Tuesday morning symbolically inaugurated the Holy Year of Mercy in the Vatican by opening the Holy Door in the atrium of the Basilica of St Peter’s. At the end of an almost two hour-long Mass, the pope, flanked by priests, cardinals and his predecessor, Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, knocked on the Holy Door, which then opened up into the basilica.

Earlier during his homily, Francis had explained the significance of both the Holy Door, which was last opened by St John Paul II in the jubilee year of 2000, and of the Holy Year itself, saying:

“To pass through the Holy Door means to rediscover the infinite mercy of the father who welcomes everyone and goes out personally to encounter each of them.”

 

 

Pope Emeritus Benedict attended the opening the Holy Door and was the second person through it after Pope Francis.

 

Online reports:

 

BBC - Pope Francis opens St Peter's Holy Door to launch jubilee

The Irish Times - here

Vatican Radio coverage HERE.

 

Over at Whispers in the Loggia Rocco's coverage and analysis here and here.