Fr. Pedro Pablo: Entrance through the Holy Door

So, this afternoon, 16^th September, 2025, I took the subway to the Vatican and arrived at the booth next to Castel Sant'Angelo to register. Going alone, I thought I would join one of the many groups arriving and make the short pilgrimage with them.

After giving my name and indicating that I was a priest, the person in charge told me that there was no group of pilgrims at that moment, but that I could create one, even if small, with the few couples and families who were waiting to join the one that was coming. I gladly accepted, and he gave me a sheet of paper with several texts, asking me to lead the prayers and songs.

Once he took out the Jubilee Cross, which is given to each group to carry in front of them, he asked who could carry it. I raised my hand as I handed him back the paper with the prayers. He asked me quietly, as he placed the cross in my hands, why I had asked for it, and I replied that perhaps I was the one who needed God's mercy most in this Jubilee Year. He smiled at my answer. The young Italian man on my left, who was with his wife, received the sheet and, after asking me to tell them what to do, we began to get together.

After lining up, we recited an opening prayer in Italian, two psalms, a reading from the New Testament, and observed a moment of silence to meditate on it. Then, the three Hungarian ladies recited a mystery of the Rosary in their language, which we followed in silence. When we arrived in front of the church halfway along the route (S. Maria Trasportina), a reflection on Mary was read (“Spes non confundit,” 24). Without delay, we continued with another mystery of the Rosary in Italian. Since we were all very bad at singing, we did not sing any hymns during the procession.

Entering the atrium of St. Peter's Square, we stopped for a moment to rest... and take a photo. Then we continued with the litany and another mystery in English. Once we arrived at the Holy Door, we recited the beautiful Psalm 23, “The Lord is my Shepherd.” Then, with great devotion and joy, we crossed the Holy Door... and continued walking and praying for the intentions of the Church and the Pope until we reached the high altar above the tomb of St. Peter. There we professed our faith with the Creed, and then I invited everyone to pray silently for a few seconds for our intentions and for those who had asked us to pray for them at this special moment.

So, we did, and I ended up giving the blessing with the cross of the Jubilee Year, raising it with both hands. All the members of the small group, as well as the people who were inside St. Peter's Basilica, in front of the high altar, and the group of volunteers who had accompanied us on the last part of the journey, bowed their heads and made the sign of the cross with great devotion. It was a moment of deep intimacy with God.

Thus, our journey together came to an end and we said goodbye. Each of us went our separate ways within the immense basilica, giving thanks to God for this very special moment, so full of His grace.

Personally, I came away feeling very strengthened and grateful for this moment, remembering the promise I had made to my provincial superior, and so it was: I had the grace to pass through the Holy Door.

May God continue to fill with strength and His grace all the pilgrims who walk this path every day to find God's mercy and recognize His love, both in great moments and in painful ones. Amen.

Father Hernández Jaime Pedro Pablo Leobardo, mccj