(Vatican Radio) On the 8th of December, Feast of the Immaculate Conception, Pope Francis pushed open the Holy Door of Saint Peter’s Basilica. A symbolic gesture to mark the opening of the Extraordinary Holy Year dedicated to Mercy.
This Holy Year came as a surprise when the Pope first called for it on the 13th of March during a Penitential service in Saint Peter’s Basilica.
Veronica Scarisbrick looks at some of the rituals regarding Jubilee Years over the centuries and shares an eye witness account of the opening of the Holy Door for the Jubilee of 1950, an occasion during which frenzied crowds came along armed with scissors to snip at the cassock of Pius XII.
Listen to a programme presented and produced by Veronica Scarisbrick:
Once upon a time the Holy Doors of the Major Basilicas here in Rome were not as magnificent to look at as they are today. Simplicity was the name of the game and rather than elaborate with bronze decorations they were in plain wood and bricked in on both sides. That’s to say from the years that go from 1500 to 1950.
The knocking down of any such door, even after that date, was a worrisome affair as masons had to be make sure rubble did not reach anywhere near those standing by. Something not always avoided or anyway not at Saint Peter’s Basilica on Christmas eve 1964 when cement fragments fell near Blessed Paul VI.
After these masons, or ‘San Pietrini’, as the Basilica’s masons are known, had accomplished their task, the Pope took a hammer and in a symbolic gesture tapped on the Holy Door and pushed it open. Hammers of which we have many an example this present day, precious objects made of gold, gilded silver or even ivory
Point of fact silver and gold were also used for a couple of the bricks to be symbolically placed within the walls as reported in a Chronicle of the Jubilee Year of 1423: “ people show such devotion to the bricks and cement fragments that as soon as the door is uncovered they are carried away in a general frenzy”.
And it seems at a later date during the opening of the Holy Door by Pope Pius XII to mark the Holy Year of 1950 this rather surprising frenzy astonished someone who attended this event. He’s the late Father John Charles– Roux who, somewhat horrified, recounts what he himself witnessed on this occasion.
His story begins with the practice of the exchanging of skull caps between the pope and the people: “In the last years of his reign he used to give his skull cap to people. Yes…you went to a special shop where they had the exact measurements for the circumference of his head and you bought one there…the direct result of what I saw happened at the opening of the Holy Door. The people especially Spaniards and South Americans used to come with scissors and when he passed by tried to cut something of his cassock. Of course they didn’t always get hold of his cassock so the pope used to come back bleeding”.
That’s why, Father Charles- Roux says in this archive interview, in an effort to persuade people to put their scissors away a member of the ‘anticamera’ suggested fuelling the enthusiasm of those present by encouraging them to take away the pope’s skull cap instead. A practice already in vogue anyway during the pontificate of Pius X.
Our Rosminian’s eye witness account also relates to Pius XII and his papal throne: “At the opening of the Holy Door his throne covered in white damask was quite decent during the first part of the ceremony but when we came out of Saint Peter’s hardly anything remained of the chair, wood- worms could not have done a better job than the pilgrims. The chair had been destroyed”.
Getting back to the Holy Doors, as you probably know there are four of them here in Rome, one at each of the Major Roman Basilicas, that’s to say of Saint John Lateran, Saint Mary Major, Saint Paul’s Outside- the-Walls and of course Saint Peter’s..
But in Saint Peter’s while the last wooden door was installed during the pontificate of Benedict XIV in 1748, the one we see today was placed there in 1950. Like most of the doors to the Basilica this bronze one is relatively modern. It was designed by Vico Consorti during the pontificate of Pius XII who drew attention to the symbolic significance attached to the Holy Door from a biblical, theological, liturgical and pastoral point of view in terms of salvation history. I once went to take a closer look at it. This is what I saw:
“The panels represent scenes which have as theme that of every ‘Holy Year’. That’s to say reconciliation, reconciliation between God and man. For example there’s the representation of Our Lord telling the Apostle’s you must forgive your brother seventy times seven not just seven times. There is the representation of the Crucifixion, here another has the representation of the Resurrection. Pilgrims come here to cross the threshold of Saint Peter’s and are meant to repent while they do so they may gain access to grace and reconciliation.
To note that the concept of the Holy Door was only introduced in the year 1500 by Alexander VI the Borgia pope.
And to note too that Pope Francis has added his personal stamp on the traditional ritual for a Jubilee year. Let’s recall how during his first Apostolic journey to Africa, while in Bangui, capital of the Central African Republic breaking with tradition he symbolically opened the first Holy Door of this Jubilee Year of Mercy away from Rome. A large plain wooden door, simple as holy doors once were centuries ago and as many still are right across the world today.
I’m Veronica Scarisbrick
(from Vatican Radio)…
(Vatican Radio) Reflecting on the meaning of the Jubilee of Mercy Pope Francis on Wednesday said that “especially in our times, in which forgiveness is a rare guest in the areas of human life, the call to mercy becomes more urgent”.
The Pope was addressing the crowds gathered in St. Peter’s Square for the weekly General Audience.
He said that mercy can contribute much in building a more human world and has a fundamental role to play everywhere: “in society, institutions, at work and even in the family”.
Recalling the fact that on Tuesday, December 8th, he opened the Holy Door of the Jubilee of Mercy in St. Peter’s Basilica after having already done so in the Cathedral of Bangui in Central Africa, Pope Francis said “today I would like to reflect with you on the meaning of this Holy Year, and answer the question: why a Jubilee of Mercy?”
He explained that in our age of profound changes, the Church needs the extraordinary moment offered by a Holy Year in which to offer her special contribution and make visible signs of the presence and closeness of God.
He said that the Jubilee is a favorable time to do so because by turning our eyes to God, the merciful Father, and to our brothers in need, it helps us focus attention on the essential content of the Gospel: “Jesus Christ, Mercy made flesh”.
“To celebrate a Jubilee of Mercy, he said, is equivalent to putting our Christian faith’s distinctive features back at the center of our personal lives and of our communities”.
“Dear brothers and sisters, Pope Francis continued, the Jubilee will be a ‘favorable time’ for the Church if we learn to choose ‘what God likes most’ without bowing to the temptation of thinking that there is something else that is more important”.
“Nothing is more important than choosing ‘what pleases God most,’ his mercy!” he said.
Pope Francis also remarked on the necessary work of renewal happening in the institutions and structures of the Church and described it as a life-giving experience which can guarantee that the Church continue to be “a city set on a mountain that cannot be hidden” (cf. Mt 5:14).
He said that the Jubilee Year will strengthen our certainty that “mercy can really contribute to building a more human world. Especially in our times, in which forgiveness is a rare guest in the areas of human life, the call to merciful, he continued, becomes more urgent, and this everywhere: in society, institutions, at work and even in the family”.
In today’s world, Pope Francis said, mercy and forgiveness often appear overwhelmed by self-interest, hedonism and corruptness, while in the Christian life they can be stifled by hypocrisy and worldliness.
Forgetfulness of God’s mercy blinds us even to seeing sin for what it is. That is why, he explained, this Holy Year of Mercy is so important.
The Pope concluded with the prayer that each of us may become ever more aware of God’s mercy at work in our lives and ever more effective in testifying to its transforming power in our world.
(from Vatican Radio)…
(Vatican Radio) The Holy See on Tuesday said the “respect and promotion” of international humanitarian law is “increasingly ignored and violated.”
Archbishop Silvano Tomasi, Permanent Representative of the Holy See to the United Nations and Other International Organizations in Geneva, was speaking at the 32nd International Conference of the Red Cross and Red Crescent.
“Focusing on current and protracted conflicts, the international Community should remain vigilant and tireless in calling attention to the needs of people who find themselves in the midst of humanitarian emergencies,” Archbishop Tomasi said. “The short attention span of the communications media, and of many others in the international Community, should be challenged by regularly calling attention to the ongoing emergencies that seem to be multiplying in intensity and complexity.”
During his speech, Archbishop Tomasi proposed a comprehensive definition for “neighbor”, since all persons are equal members of the one human family and should be in mutual solidarity.
“All of us are created with equal dignity and therefore are entitled to equal access to the goods of this world,” he said. “Moreover, all persons should have an equal say in the formulation of policies and decisions that will affect their own lives and that of future generations.”
The full intervention by Archbishop Tomasi is below
Statement by H.E. Archbishop Silvano M. Tomasi,
Permanent Representative of the Holy See to the United Nations and Other International Organizations in Geneva
at the 32nd International Conference
of the Red Cross and Red Crescent
Geneva, 8-10 December 2015
***
Mr. Chairman,
The Holy See Delegation is pleased to participate in this 32nd International Conference. It recognizes the outstanding contribution of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement in response to many human needs, especially in situations of humanitarian crisis and other emergencies. In particular, we wish to acknowledge the efforts of the RCRC in response to the Ebola epidemic that caused very great suffering in Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone. The Movement’s engagement in providing Specialized Ebola Care, as well as Safe and Dignified Burials, helped to prevent additional human anguish and loss of life, as a result of the outbreak. Many health care, social service and pastoral care institutions related to the Catholic Church, and other faith communities, worked side-by-side with the national and local members in the Ebola Response efforts. Thus, my Delegation concurs with the decision by this Conference to grant an Award to the volunteers, who selflessly responded to the families and local community members affected by this tragic outbreak.
The present Conference coincides with the 50th anniversary of the proclamation of the Fundamental Principles of the Movement: Humanity, Impartiality, Neutrality, Independence, Voluntary Service, Unity and Universality. These provide the overarching theme for this quadrennial gathering. Indeed, many humanitarian actors throughout the world, including religiously inspired organizations, share these same principles. So too, my Delegation supports the efforts of this Conference to strengthen International Humanitarian Law and to monitor carefully its implementation by States and by all other stakeholders.
Humanitarian needs are complex in nature and the response required by key stakeholders can run the risk of placing too much emphasis on those aspects with greater legal and technical implications, while downplaying or ignoring those aspects, which in the judgment of the Holy See, are most essential – in other words, the principle of “humanity”, by which the Movement means “protecting life and health and ensuring respect for the human being”, and through which it aims to “promote mutual understanding, friendship, cooperation and lasting peace amongst all peoples.” During his recent address to the United Nations General Assembly, Pope Francis urged the international community to avoid the mistaken conclusion that “… the bureaucratic exercise of drawing up long lists of good proposals – goals, objectives and statistics … will provide an answer to all the challenges” of today’s world. He stressed that, “we are dealing with real men and women who live, struggle and suffer, and are often forced to live in great poverty, deprived of all rights.”
Mr. Chairman,
The Holy See Delegation shares the concern expressed in the conceptual document for this Conference, that “[w]e are confronted today with a hugely complex humanitarian operating environment.” The current series of never-ending conflicts is bringing about increasingly difficult and tragic consequences. In a way, we face “a true world war fought piecemeal”, which affects numerous areas in our world in different forms and to varying degrees of intensity.
Together with the international Community, the Holy See, as well as Catholic Church-inspired organizations engaged in a humanitarian response in all parts of the world, is committed to preventing further deterioration of the situation. To this end, it participated in the World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction, held in Sendai, Japan, during March 2015, and in the negotiations that led to the adoption of the post-2015 Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction. Increasing investment in disaster prevention and addressing the causes of disaster-risk will eventually reduce the overwhelming costs, the tragic consequences, and the serial occurrences of natural disasters, due to environmental degradation and changes in climate. The means to achieve this objective are increased political will and economic input and a greater deployment of human resources, in conformity with internationally established standards and accords.
The best “prevention”, however, is through integral human development, which takes into account all aspects of human progress, including social, economic, educational, emotional, and spiritual. Improvement of the quality of life, for both individuals and families, and the promotion of human rights and freedoms, most especially among poor and marginalized communities, can similarly prevent future occurrences of armed conflict, civil strife and failures in upholding the rule of law.
In the context of international humanitarian law, an alarming development seems to be gaining ground. The respect and promotion of international humanitarian law is increasingly ignored and violated. The Holy See is worried by these developments that can only lead to more violence, misery and suffering. It associates itself with the sober and urgent warning launched recently by the United Nations Secretary-General and the President of the International Committee of the Red Cross. The description they give of the continued erosion of, and non-compliance with, the rules of international humanitarian law is alarming. These two senior leaders judge the current situation to be unacceptable. They see that the world is at a crossroads and that all state and non-state actors have the duty to engage to “renew a contract for humanity” that should benefit millions of people affected by armed conflicts.
Mr. Chairman,
Focusing on current and protracted conflicts, the international Community should remain vigilant and tireless in calling attention to the needs of people who find themselves in the midst of humanitarian emergencies. The short attention span of the communications media, and of many others in the international Community, should be challenged by regularly calling attention to the ongoing emergencies that seem to be multiplying in intensity and complexity. Let us emphasize the inter-connectedness of global phenomena and reject the “throwaway culture” that plagues our world and feeds tendencies toward greed, corruption, violence, war, and environmental degradation. Let us insist that all citizens of this world have a responsibility to care for their neighbors. In this regard, the Holy See Delegation proposes a comprehensive definition for “neighbor”, since all persons are equal members of the one human family and should be in mutual solidarity. All of us are created with equal dignity and therefore are entitled to equal access to the goods of this world. Moreover, all persons should have an equal say in the formulation of policies and decisions that will affect their own lives and that of future generations.
Mr. Chairman,
Preventive and remedial measures should go hand in hand. All players must address the root causes of the many problems our globalized world is facing. Based on a shared humanity and dignity, there is an urgent need to collectively confront the global issues affecting the whole human family. Disarmament, and nuclear disarmament in particular, migration, poverty, armed conflicts, respect for human rights and the rule of law, climate change and environmental problems, diseases, etc. are areas where States, the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, International organizations and the civil society should work together to secure a better future for coming generations.
(from Vatican Radio)…
(Vatican Radio) The efforts of the Vatican to strengthen its procedures for combatting financial crimes has been acknowledged by the Council of Europe’s anti-money laundering body.
The Plenary Meeting of Moneyval (the “Committee of Experts on the Evaluation of Anti-Money Laundering Measures and the Financing of Terrorism”) on Tuesday approved the Second Progress Report of the Holy See/ Vatican City State.
The approval of this latest Report, which follows on the Mutual Evaluation Report of 4 July 2012 and on the Progress Report of 9 December 2013, is part of the ordinary reporting process foreseen in the Rules of Procedure of Moneyval for all member States.
The Moneyval Committee has welcomed the outcome of the continued efforts by the Holy See and the Vatican City State to further strengthen their institutional, legal and operational framework for combatting money laundering and the financing of terrorism (AML/CFT).
“The latest Progress Report confirms that the Holy See has established a functional, sustainable and effective system, aiming at preventing and fighting financial crimes”, said Monsignor Antoine Camilleri, Under-Secretary for Relations with States, and Head of Delegation of the Holy See and Vatican City State to the Moneyval Plenary.
(from Vatican Radio)…
(Vatican Radio) The final event of the opening of the Holy Year was a light show on the facade of St. Peter’s Basilica, which was inspired by Pope Francis’ ecological encyclical Laudato Si’: On Care for our Common Home .
The three-hour event on Tuesday evening was called “Fiat Lux: Illuminating Our Common Home.” It involved a changing display of animals (many of them endangered), nature scenes, and other images highlighting the fragility of our environment.
The show was sponsored by the World Bank Group (Connect4Climate), by Paul G. Allen’s Vulcan Productions, by the Li Ka-shing Foundation and by Okeanos.
The event featured the work of some of the world’s most notable humanistic and nature photographers and filmmakers including Sebastião Salgado (Genesi and Contrasto), Joel Sartore (National Geographic Photo Ark), Yann Arthus Bertrand (Human), David Doubilet, Ron Fricke and Mark Magidson (Samsara), Howard Hall, Shawn Heinrichs, Greg Huglin, Chris Jordan, Steve McCurry, Paul Nicklen and Louie Schwartzberg. The projection is curated by Louie Psihoyos and Travis Threlkel, and produced by Obscura Digital. Francesco Carrozzini curated the Creative Direction for Connect4Climate.
“We are honored to be working with the Vatican to raise awareness of an issue so critical to our shared goal of ending extreme poverty,” said Jim Yong Kim, the President of the World Bank Group.
“The poorest people in the world are disproportionately affected by the effects of a warming climate and are most vulnerable to natural disasters and extreme weather,” Kim added. “This impressive initiative will draw global attention to the urgency of tackling climate change for the sake of people and our planet.”
Speaking about the event last week, the President of the Pontifical Council for the New Evangelization, Archbishop Rino Fisichella, said the event was “intended to present the beauty of creation,” adding this was especially significant since the Twenty-first United Nations Climate Change Conference (Cop 21) is currently taking place in Paris.
(from Vatican Radio)…