Rome Concludes 2025 Ordinary Jubilee with Closing of St. Peter's Holy Door

Grand Finale of the Jubilee Year

The 2025 Ordinary Jubilee in Rome, themed 'Pilgrims of Hope,' drew to a close on January 6, 2026, with a solemn ceremony at St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City. Pope Leo XIV presided over the closing of the basilica's Holy Door, marking the official end of the Holy Year on the Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord. This event concludes a period of spiritual significance that commenced on Christmas Eve, December 24, 2024.

The Significance of the Holy Door

The closing of the Holy Door is a deeply symbolic act in Catholic tradition. These doors, found in Rome's four major papal basilicas, are ceremonially opened only during Jubilee years, representing a passage from sin to grace and an opportunity for spiritual renewal. Pilgrims passing through them can traditionally gain plenary indulgences. The Holy Door of St. Peter's is always the last to be closed, following those of St. John Lateran, St. Mary Major, and St. Paul Outside the Walls, which were sealed in the preceding days. After the ceremony, the door will be bricked up from the inside, remaining sealed until the next Jubilee.

A Year of Hope and Pilgrimage

The 2025 Jubilee, proclaimed by Pope Francis with the papal bull 'Spes Non Confundit' ('Hope Does Not Disappoint'), invited the faithful worldwide to embark on a 'pilgrimage of hope.' Over the course of the year, more than 33 million pilgrims visited Rome, participating in various events and seeking spiritual blessings. The Jubilee saw a unique transition in its leadership, having been opened by Pope Francis and concluded by his successor, Pope Leo XIV, following Pope Francis's death in April 2025.

The Closing Ceremony

During the closing ceremony, Pope Leo XIV knelt before the threshold of the Holy Door for a moment of silent prayer before personally pushing shut the two large bronze doors. The event was attended by dignitaries, including Italian President Sergio Mattarella. While the ceremonial closing marks the end of the Jubilee, the physical walling-up of the door is expected to occur in the days following. Jubilees are a centuries-old tradition in the Catholic Church, typically held every 25 years, with their origins tracing back to the year 1300.