Vatican Key Entombed Until Next Jubilee
Holy Door Key Sealed Away for 25 Years After Closing of Jubilee Year
The Vatican has entombed the key to St. Peter's Basilica's Holy Door following the closing ceremony of the 2025 Jubilee Year, sealing it away until the next Jubilee celebration in 2050.
The ancient tradition symbolizes the end of the special year of grace and mercy designated by the Catholic Church, during which pilgrims from around the world traveled to Rome to pass through the Holy Door and receive special indulgences.
Pope Francis presided over the closing ceremony of the Holy Door, using the ceremonial key one final time before it was placed in a sealed container and entombed within the walls of St. Peter's Basilica.
The Holy Door, which had remained open throughout the Jubilee Year allowing millions of pilgrims to pass through, was then bricked shut and will remain closed for the next quarter century.
Ancient Catholic Tradition Marks End of Special Year of Grace
The Jubilee Year, also known as a Holy Year, is a special time in the Catholic Church traditionally celebrated every 25 years, though extraordinary Jubilees can be called for special occasions. During a Jubilee Year, the Pope opens Holy Doors at major basilicas in Rome, and Catholics who make pilgrimages and fulfill certain spiritual requirements can receive plenary indulgences, which the Church teaches remove temporal punishment for sins.
The 2025 Jubilee attracted millions of pilgrims to Rome from across the globe, with the Holy Door at St. Peter's Basilica serving as the primary destination for those seeking the spiritual benefits of the Holy Year. The key's entombment marks the official conclusion of these special graces until the next regularly scheduled Jubilee in 2050, when a future pope will break the seal, retrieve the key, and open the Holy Door once again.
TAKE ACTION
Support Catholic Pilgrimage: • Catholic Travel Centre: www.catholictravelcentre.com (organizes pilgrimages to Rome and holy sites) • Email: info@catholictravelcentre.com
Vatican and Church History: • EWTN: www.ewtn.com/donate (provides Catholic education and programming) • Email: viewer@ewtn.com | Phone: 1-800-447-3986
Catholic Heritage Preservation: • Knights of Columbus: www.kofc.org/donate (supports Catholic causes globally) • Email: info@kofc.org | Phone: 1-203-752-4000
What You Can Do Today: • Learn about the theological significance of Jubilee Years and indulgences in Catholic teaching • Support organizations that facilitate pilgrimages for Catholics unable to afford travel to Rome • Study Church history and traditions connecting modern Catholics to ancient practices • Share images and stories from the 2025 Jubilee to educate others about Catholic devotional life
