Pope Francis to open "Holy Door of Charity" at Caritas hostel

(Vatican Radio) A “Holy Door of Charity” will be opened by Pope Francis on 18 December during the Jubilee of Mercy at the Diocese of Rome’s Caritas Hostel on Via Marsala.

The Cardinal Vicar of Rome, Agostino Vallini, made the announcement on Monday evening during the closing session of the Diocesan Ecclesial Congress taking place at the Lateran Basilica.

The hostel, located near Rome’s Termini Railway Station, is named after the founder of Caritas Rome, Monsignor Luigi Liegro, and is currently being renovated to house 180 homeless people.

Pope Francis will also visit the hostel’s canteen, which is named after St. John Paul II.

The Jubilee Year of Mercy will be opened by Pope Francis on 8 December when the Holy Father opens the Holy Door at St. Peter’s Basilica.

Traditionally during a Jubilee Year, the Holy Doors are open at the four Papal Basilicas in Rome: St. Peter’s, St. Paul’s Outside the Walls, St. Mary Major, and St. John Lateran.

In addition to the Holy Door of Charity at the Caritas Hostel, Cardinal Vallini said another Holy Door will be opened at the Santuario della Madonna del Divino Amore (“Sanctuary of Our Lady of Divine Love”) located on Via Ardeatina.

The Sanctuary is held in high esteem by the people of Rome, and Pope St. John Paul II added it to the traditional Seven Churches Pilgrimage during the Year 2000 Jubilee.