The Holy Door of the Papal Basilica of Saint Mary Major was officially opened on Wednesday, January 1, 2025, marking the beginning of the Jubilee Year.
The ceremony was led by Cardinal Rolandas Makrickas, the Lithuanian coadjutor Archpriest of the basilica, who was recently elevated to the rank of cardinal during Pope Francis' December 2024 consistory.
In his homily following the door’s opening, Makrickas reflected on the profound spiritual meaning of the Holy Door and its connection to the Virgin Mary.
He highlighted Mary’s role as a guiding light for humanity, drawing on Saint Paul’s words: “When the fullness of time had come, God sent His Son, born of a woman.”
He described Mary as the unifying path through which eternity meets history.
The cardinal also spoke about the basilica’s revered icon, Salus Populi Romani, and its significance.
He reminded the faithful of Mary’s protective presence, saying, “Where the Madonna is present, turmoil does not prevail, and fear does not win.”
Reflecting on the relic of the Holy Cradle housed within the basilica, the cardinal encouraged pilgrims to embark on a journey of renewal, likening the basilica to the “Bethlehem of the West” and a spiritual star pointing toward Jesus Christ, the Light of the World.
Concluding his message, he echoed Pope Francis’ words from the Bull of Indiction for the Jubilee Year, Spes non confundit, urging pilgrims to entrust their lives to Mary, who leads all to her Son.
“No one is excluded from this path of hope,” he affirmed, emphasizing the universal embrace of Mary’s maternal love and guidance.
The Jubilee Year invites all pilgrims to embark on a transformative journey of faith under the maternal care of Mary.
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