The Holy Door of the Papal Basilica of Saint Mary Major was solemnly closed on Christmas Day, marking a significant moment in the Jubilee of Hope and inviting the faithful to carry its message forward through lives rooted in listening, welcome and forgiveness.

The ancient bell La Sperduta, long associated with pilgrimage, tolled at dusk as pilgrims gathered despite persistent rain in Rome. The rite was presided over by Rolandas Makrickas, Cardinal Archpriest of the basilica.

A silent and prayerful rite

In a moment marked by deep silence, Cardinal Makrickas ascended the steps of the Holy Door, knelt in prayer at its threshold, and then gently closed it. The doors had remained open since January 1, 2025, and their closing on Christmas Day was deeply symbolic, as Saint Mary Major preserves the relics of the Holy Crib of the Infant Jesus.

“As we close this Holy Door,” the Cardinal said, “we believe that the heart of the Risen One remains always open to those who place their hope in Him.”

The door that remains open

During the Mass that followed, accompanied by the historic Liberian Choir in its 480th anniversary year, Cardinal Makrickas stressed that divine grace is never closed. “What truly matters,” he said, “is the door of our heart — opened when we listen to the Word, widened when we welcome others, and strengthened when we forgive.”

Passing through the Holy Door, he added, was a gift, but becoming “open doors for others” is the lasting mission of the faithful.

One Jubilee, two Popes

The Cardinal highlighted the unique character of the Jubilee of Hope, which began under Pope Francis and continues under Pope Leo XIV — a rare continuity previously seen only in the Holy Year of 1700. This transition, he said, reflects a Church that endures because “the Lord never abandons His people”.

Hope translated into daily life

Emphasising that hope is a concrete force rather than sentiment, Cardinal Makrickas urged the faithful to translate the Jubilee into renewed prayer, care for the poor, reconciliation within families and merciful presence in communities.

The Mass concluded with the Christmas carol Astro del ciel (Silent Night) and a solemn blessing