Eglise du Pape François #Saint-Pierre du Vatican

On the forecourt of St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican, the scene was well set before 12:00 with more than 30,000 faithful for the Pope's Christmas message followed by the Orbi et Urbi blessing. This blessing only occurs twice a year: at Christmas and Easter when the Holy Father blesses the eternal city of Rome and the entire world. After he returned to the central box in St. Peter's Square in the Vatican, two national anthems (of Italy and the Vatican) were performed by the Italian army.

In his Bull of Indiction Spes non confundit of May 9, 2024 for the Ordinary Jubilee of the Year 2025, after having noted the spiritual and pastoral aspects of Hope, the Pope had announced the opening of the Holy Door for the Ordinary Jubilee of 2025. A special program was established to allow the Catholic faithful of the world to benefit from this jubilee throughout the world. This Bull, while delivering the liturgical, and especially spiritual, activities to be carried out there, entrusted the task to all diocesan bishops to bring this moment of the Jubilee to life 5 days after the Opening of the Holy Door.