The opening of the Holy Door is a well-known and emotional ritual that marks the beginning of the Jubilee. The first certain date we know of for this celebration dates back to the year 1500, when Pope Alexander VI opened the Holy Door of St. Peter’s Basilica. It is a Door that is only open during the Jubilee year, while in the other years, those that are not Jubilee years, it is not only closed but also sealed with stones.

In the past, the Pope would strike the stone sealing the door with a hammer, and then the workers would continue to break down the rest. However, to avoid any danger, Pope John Paul II decided to change the ritual so that the stone sealing the door would be removed beforehand. Then, during the opening ceremony, the Pope would push the doors as a symbolic gesture.

---

Symbolism of the Holy Door

The opening of the Holy Door during the Jubilee symbolises the passage that every Christian must make from sin to grace. But without a doubt, for us Christians, the Holy Door represents Christ. It reminds us of the words of Jesus Himself, which we read in the Gospel according to John, ‘Very truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep.’ (10:7).

It is true that the Holy Door is an image of Christ, but like any other image, it has its limitations in relation to the reality it represents. Christ is one, but this does not mean that there must be only one Holy Door, because while the presence of a door in a basilica or cathedral is limited to one specific place, Christ is present in every community, even as He Himself said, ‘For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I with them’ (Mt 18:20).

---

The Holy Door of St Peter’s Basilica

In 1949 a competition was held for the design of a new Jubilee Door which was to be used for the great Holy Year of 1950. This competition was won by the sculptor Vico Consorti, who completed the work in 11 months, in time to have it inaugurated on Christmas Eve 1949.

The new door was a gift to Pope Pius XII from Francesco Von Streng, the Bishop of Lugano and Basel in Switzerland and his community, as an expression of gratitude to the Lord for having spared their homeland from the horrors of the Second World War.

The theme followed by the artist in creating the panels for the Holy Door, came from the words of the Pope: “Grant, O Lord, that this Holy Year be the year of the great return and great forgiveness”.

The door’s sculptural cycle narrates the story of mankind in 16 panels from “Sin and the Expulsion from the Earthly Paradise”, to the apparitions of the risen Christ to Thomas and to the assembled Apostles. The image of Christ as the door of salvation is featured on the last panel.