Holy Door at St. John Lateran being prepared for Jubilee of Mercy

(Vatican Radio) The Holy Door of the Papal Basilica of St. John Lateran was on Monday freed from the brick wall which had hidden it since the year 2000.

After the opening prayer of Cardinal Agostino Vallini, the workers carefully tore down the wall, which protects the door in the years between Jubilees.

Inside, they recovered a zinc box which contained the documents certifying the closure of the door at the end of the Year 2000 Jubilee.  The box also contained 41 medals with the emblem of Pope John Paul II: A gold  one minted in 2000; 23 silver ones representing the years of the pontificate of John Paul II at the time of the last Jubilee; and 17 bronze ones , one for each year since 1983, the year of the previous Jubilee.

In addition to Cardinal Vallini, the ceremony was attended by the Cathedral Chapter of the Lateran; the Master of Liturgical Celebrations of the Pope, Monsignor Guido Marini; and the President of the Pontifical Council for Promoting the New Evangelization, Archbishop Rino Fisichella.

The Basilica of Saint John Latern is the Cathedral of the Diocese of Rome, and the Holy Door will be officially opened by Pope Francis on 13 December, the first Sunday of the Jubilee of Mercy, which begins with the opening of the Holy Door at St. Peter’s Basilica on 8 December, the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception.

Holy Doors will also be at the other major basilicas of Rome: St. Mary Major, and St. Paul’s Outside the Walls. For the Jubilee Year of Mercy, Pope Francis has also asked for Holy Doors to be established at Rome’s Sanctuary of Our Lady of Divine Love, and the Diocese of Rome’s Caritas Hostel on Via Marsala.