He made the remarks a day after the start of the Roman Catholic Church’s Holy Year, known as a Jubilee, which takes place every quarter century. On Tuesday evening, Francis opened the Holy Door in St. Peter’s Basilica so that the first pilgrims could go through. Millions more are expected to follow over the year.

Pope Francis will open the Holy Door of St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican on Christmas Eve to kick off Jubilee 2025. The door, which is usually bricked up, will remain open for the year to welcome an expected 30 million pilgrims.

Opening the Holy Doors of St. Peter’s Basilica on Christmas Eve, Pope Francis inaugurates a jubilee year expected to draw 32 million visitors to Rome.

Pope Francis will open the Holy Year of the Catholic Church in St. Peter's Basilica on Tuesday evening. In a solemn ceremony on Christmas Eve, the 88-year-old pontiff will open the Holy Door, which is otherwise walled up from the inside,