News by email Donate

Suggestions

Top Stories

Most Read

Popular Videos

Pope-Francis-waving-main_article_image.jpg
AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino
World News

Holy Year of Mercy pilgrims to Vatican exceeds 13 million

by Hannah Tooley

Pope Francis officially opened the Jubilee Year of Mercy in December 2015 and Catholics have been flooding into Rome to celebrate and take part in pilgrimage.

Opening the year, the pope said: "I have decided to announce an Extraordinary Jubilee which has at its centre the mercy of God.

"It will be a Holy Year of Mercy.

"We want to live in the light of the word of the Lord: "Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful" (cf. Lk 6:36). And this especially applies to confessors! So much mercy!"

REX/Image Broker

The special year is intended to show a more merciful side of the Catholic Church and the event saw a huge open air Mass at the Vatican attended by 50,000 people.

The Vatican has said it usually has around five million visitors a year, so far 13 million people have passed through the Holy Door at St Peter's Basilica.

Peter Williams from Catholic Voices told Premier why this pilgrimage is so important to Catholics.

He told Premier what happens in Catholic theology: "You go there [to Rome] in order to gain an indulgence, which is a remission of the temporal punishment of your sins (you can ask on behalf of yourself or others to be forgiven) - which you can offer up for other people as well.

"So that's an important part of Catholic spirituality, so it's no surprise not only are so many people going to Rome, but several times the usual number of people are going to Rome - that's rather wonderful."

He went on: "Rome really signifies for us the unity of the Church, the truth that comes only through God."

The Jubilee Year will end on November 20th 2016.

Peter Williams said that pilgrims will feel a sense of awe when they pass through the Holy Doors, "the awesome grace and mercy that is offered through the sacrifice of our Lord Jesus Christ, that through him and only though him we have justification before God, that we can be in that state of the wonderful relationship with God.

"So a devout person will go through that door with that very much in mind."

Listen to Premier's Hannah Tooley speak to Peter Williams here:

A Monthly Gift Of $11 Makes A World Of Difference

In a world of fake news there’s never been a greater need for quality Christian journalism. Premier’s mission is to provide the Church with the most up to date and relevant news, told from a Christian perspective. But we can’t do it without you.

Unlike many websites we haven't put up a paywall — we want to keep our journalism free at the point of need and as open as we can. Premier’s news output takes a lot of time, money and hard work to produce. No one in the USA is sharing news like we are across radio, magazines and online so please help us to continue that today.

For a monthly gift of $11 or more we’d also be able to send you a free copy of the brand new Premier Bible, a wonderful Anglicised version of the NLT packed with exclusive bonus content, reading plan and resources to help you get the most out of scripture.

Your monthly support will make a world of difference. Thank you.

Support Us
Continue the conversation on our Facebook page

Related Articles

Sign up to our newsletter to stay informed with news from a Christian perspective.

News by email

Connect

Donate

Donate