The Tradition of the Opening of the Holy Door in St. Peter’s Basilica is one of the most symbolic and solemn moments of the Jubilee or Holy Year of the Catholic Church. This rite, rich in spiritual meaning, has ancient origins that are intertwined with the development of the liturgy and the history of Christianity. Let’s see how and when this tradition took shape and the deep meaning it has.
The celebration of the Holy Year has biblical roots, inspired by the Jewish Jubilee described in Leviticus (25:10), which included a year of liberation and renewal every 50 years. This idea was taken up in the Christian context by Pope Boniface VIII, who established the first official Holy Year in 1300. The central idea was to offer the faithful an extraordinary opportunity to receive forgiveness of sins and the gift of plenary indulgence to through a pilgrimage to Rome and a visit to the major basilicas.
The Tradition of the Opening of the Holy Door of Saint Peter for the Holy Year turns more than half a millennium
However, it was not until the 15th century that the specific rite of the Opening of the Holy Door was introduced as a tangible symbol of entry into a new life of grace. The rite of the Opening of the Holy Door is first attested in 1423, during the pontificate of Pope Martin V. On that occasion, a special door was opened in the Basilica of San Giovanni in Laterano to mark the beginning of a New Year Holy. The introduction of a physical door as a symbol of divine mercy represented an invitation to the faithful to spiritually enter the mystery of forgiveness and reconciliation with God.

It was Pope Alexander VI, in 1499, who institutionalized this rite in St. Peter’s Basilica. From that moment on, the Opening of the Holy Door became an essential part of the jubilee celebrations. The doors of the four main basilicas of Rome (St. Peter, St. John Laterao, St. Paul Outside the Walls, and St. Mary Major) were designated “Holy Doors.” The act of crossing them during the Holy Year represents the passage from the condition of sin to that of grace, a spiritual path towards redemption.
The ritual takes place with great solemnity and follows a precise protocol. The celebration opens with a procession led by the Pope, accompanied by cardinals, bishops and faithful. Upon reaching the Holy Door, the pontiff recites a special prayer and symbolically hits the door with a hammer, evoking the opening of the hearts of the faithful to divine grace. This action represents the removal of the barriers that separate humanity from God.

Once open, the door is crossed by the Pope and later by the pilgrims. This physical gesture is deeply spiritual: it symbolizes an act of faith and the desire to enter into the fullness of the Christian life. The Opening of the Holy Door is much more than a ritual act. It embodies the very essence of the Holy Year: the mercy of God that is made accessible to all. Crossing the Holy Door means responding to the invitation to conversion, leaving the past of sin behind and embracing a new life in Christ.
Jubilee 2025 linked to the extraordinary Jubilee of 2015
Pope Francis, on the occasion of the Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy in 2015, stressed that the Holy Door is a symbol of the merciful heart of God and invited the faithful to recognize in this gesture an invitation to build bridges of reconciliation and to be witnesses of mercy. in the world.
The tradition of the Opening of the Holy Door in St. Peter’s Basilica is a ritual that combines history, symbolism and faith. Since its introduction in the 15th century, this practice has taken on a central role in the celebration of the Holy Years, offering the faithful a unique opportunity to rediscover the depth of divine mercy. Crossing the Holy Door is not only a physical gesture, but a spiritual experience that renews the hearts and lives of those who participate, making the Jubilee a moment of authentic transformation and grace.