Pope opens fifth Holy Door in Roman prison, extending Jubilee tradition to the marginalized

For the first time in the history of Jubilee celebrations dating back to the 15th century, Pope Francis opened a fifth Holy Door on December 26, the feast of St. Stephen, at Rebibbia New Complex Prison in Rome.

This unprecedented act symbolized an invitation for prisoners to embrace hope and transformation, aligning with the Pope’s unwavering commitment to compassion, dignity, and redemption for society's marginalized.

According to Vatican News, this symbolic act was intended to offer prisoners a message of hope and renewed confidence in their capacity for transformation.

“Prisoners were waiting for the pope with joy because they felt his closeness, just as they perceived their own separation and distance from society,” said Fr. Lucio Boldrin, Rebibbia’s chaplain.

Together with fellow chaplains and staff, Fr. Boldrin assisted Pope Francis in this historic act as he arrived as a “Pilgrim of Hope.”

This was not Pope Francis’s first visit to Rebibbia. Nine years ago, he performed the Easter Washing of the Feet ritual there and returned earlier this year to its women’s section during Holy Thursday.

Each visit underscored his deep concern for prisoners, whom he viewed not as societal outcasts but as individuals capable of redemption and reintegration.

“I think of prisoners who, deprived of their freedom, daily feel the harshness of detention and its restrictions, lack of affection, and, in more than a few cases, lack of respect,” the pope said, reiterating the Church’s commitment to mercy, justice, and the dignity of all people.

The pope’s advocacy for prison reform extended beyond symbolic gestures. He repeatedly emphasized the need for rehabilitation-focused justice systems over punitive measures.

He called for the abolition of the death penalty and denounced life imprisonment, describing it as a “hidden death sentence.” 

He also appealed for systemic reforms to address prison overcrowding, inhumane conditions, and the socio-economic factors that disproportionately affect the poor and vulnerable in prison populations.

Pope Francis’s vision of justice was rooted in Catholic social teaching, which emphasized mercy, redemption, and the inherent worth of every person as a child of God.

He urged governments to invest in restorative justice programs that addressed the root causes of crime and prioritized healing and reconciliation over retribution.

“Jesus never tires of forgiving,” the Holy Father reminded inmates during his Holy Thursday visit to Rebibbia’s women’s section earlier this year.

His message resonated with the marginalized, calling society to address not only individual failures but also the structural injustices that perpetuate poverty and crime.

By opening the Holy Door in a prison, Pope Francis extended the Jubilee’s call to conversion and renewal to those often forgotten, embodying the transformative spirit of the Church’s mission to bring light and hope to the darkest corners of society.