Blessed Petra

On November 20, Pope Francis closed the Holy Door of St. Peter’s Basilica, thus closing the Holy Year of Mercy. Along with the papal basilicas of Rome (St. Peter’s Basilica, St. John Lateran, St. Paul Outside the Walls and St. Mary Major), there are four other holy doors in different parts of the world. In Spain there is the one in the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela and the one in the Monastery of Santo Toribio de Liébana. The doors are normally sealed from the inside so that they cannot be opened. They are opened during Jubilee years, when pilgrims enter through the doors to gain the plenary indulgence related to the Jubilee. History of the holy doors The tradition of a Holy Door during a Jubilee dates back to the 15th century. Pope Martin V opened the Holy Door for the first time in the history of the Jubilee…