On 26 December 2024, on the feast of Saint Stephen, Pope Francis will open the Holy Door at the Rebibbia prison in Rome, which will be a historic moment in the history of regular jubilees. For the first time, in addition to the traditionally opened Holy Doors in the four papal basilicas in Rome, one will also be opened in a prison. This announcement was made by the Pro-prefect of the Dicastery for Evangelization, His Excellency Monsignor Rino Fisichella, during a press conference on 28 October. The Pro-prefect emphasized that Rebibbia will be “a symbol of all prisons in the world” on 26 December.
This extraordinary step has been strongly supported by the Holy Father himself, who has emphasized the importance of caring for prisoners and their reintegration into society also in the decree of the Jubilee 2025 titled Spes non Confundit. “In the jubilee year, we will be called to be tangible signs of hope for many brothers and sisters who live in conditions of need. I think of prisoners who, deprived of freedom, experience not only the harshness of imprisonment but also emotional emptiness, imposed restrictions, and in many cases a lack of respect each day. I urge governments to adopt initiatives in the jubilee year that would restore hope, forms of amnesty or forgiveness of sentences, aimed at helping people regain trust in themselves and in society, and also pathways for reintegration into the community that would reflect a specific commitment to obeying the laws,” wrote Pope Francis. He further added: “To provide prisoners with a concrete sign of closeness, I myself want to open the Holy Door in the prison so that it may be a symbol that invites them to look to the future with hope and renewed determination to live.”
In addition to accommodating the Pope's request to create “pathways for reintegration into the community” for prisoners, Monsignor Fisichella announced that on 11 September, an agreement was signed between the Holy See, Minister of Justice Carlo Nordio, and the special commissioner for the Jubilee Roberto Gualtieri to implement initiatives for the integration of prisoners through social involvement activities.
The opening of the Holy Door in Rebibbia will follow the official launch of the Jubilee, scheduled for 24 December at St. Peter's Square, where Pope Francis will first celebrate the Eucharistic liturgy at 7 p.m. and then perform the ritual of opening the Holy Door of St. Peter's Basilica. This solemn moment will be announced by a short concert of bells, celebrating the beginning of the year of grace for the whole world.
source: iubilaeum2025.va