The day announced by the Pope Francis finally arrived, and the Church opened its doors for the Jubilee Year of Hope. The wait for the opening and Christmas Mass was marked by cold and strong winds in St. Peter's Square. Even so, this did not prevent some 25 thousand people from attending the ceremony from outside (while 6 thousand were inside). On this first day of the Jubilee, it was possible to meet faces and stories that convey hope.
About an hour and a half before the start of the Mass and the cold was getting colder, a group of international students from the choir Nuova Voce began to sing typical Christmas songs to liven up the atmosphere. They sang in different languages: English, Spanish and even Polish.
"The wait was getting long and the cold too, so we decided to start singing to make the time pass faster," says choir director Ana Serrano. "It was a nice moment to share the beauty of Christmas. At the end, the Italians asked us to sing. Tu scendi dalle Stelle, the best-known Italian Christmas song, and many joined in."
Although many withdrew after the Opening of the Holy DoorThe choir members were impressed by the active participation of the faithful during the Mass. The people followed the songs, knelt on the concrete and kept long moments of silence in prayer. Those present will remember the rows of hundreds of priests distributing communion to the crowd that followed the ceremony on the giant screens in the square.
Crossing paths
Software programmer Balita Diaz witnessed an unconventional encounter. A Brazilian woman was explaining every step of the Mass in English to a South Korean man. At the end of the ceremony, she discovered that the young woman had converted to Catholicism only three years ago and had come on her own to participate in the opening of the Jubilee. They had never met before, and the only thing that united them was the bench near the Altar of Confession inside St. Peter's Basilica.
During the two days she was in Rome, the Brazilian told how she prayed to be able to enter the Basilica on the day of the Mass, as there was a strict entrance control. When the day came, she finally made it through the lines (perhaps with a little "jeitinho brasileiro", as they say in her country).
The South Korean, for his part, is not a Catholic, but commented that he had long wanted to cross a Holy Door. "Being here, I really feel like a man of faith," he said. The young woman encouraged him to come closer to the faith, and, who knows, maybe they could meet at the next World Youth Day in Seoul in 2027, already converted.
The realization of a dream
Arriving in Rome is for many a big dream, especially for those who come from far away. Brazilians Sofia Valadares and Ana Cecília, both 22 years old, share their dream of participating in the opening of the Holy Door.
"My dream was always to visit Rome and see the Vatican. I nurtured this desire for many years and finally achieved it in 2024. In the end, as God always has better plans than ours, I was able to be in Rome for Christmas and, guess what, just on the day the Jubilee! I couldn't be happier with the 'coincidences' that happened on this trip," says Sofia, who is 22 years old and a psychologist.
"Coming to Rome was always a dream since my childhood. I grew up in a home where the central decoration of the living room was a miniature of the Pietà. Thus, not only the objects, but also all my principles and values were formed and matured in the Catholic faith," says Ana Cecilia, a medical student. "To know this place, the cradle of so many important decisions, where our beloved Pope is, and to show him our affection, means a lot to me."
When asked what the Jubilee meant to each of them, they said they were struck by the universality of the Church.
"It is very beautiful to see the meaning of the word. Catholic before my eyes. Seeing so many people united by the same faith filled me with hope," says Sofia. "It is no surprise to anyone that the world desperately needs faith. Seeing so many wars and misfortunes every day can sadden any heart. The Jubilee is important precisely because of this: it represents a light that shines, it is the candle placed on the altar that burns with love. The world needs this. I need this. That love nourishes the hope we so badly need in today's world."
Ana Cecilia adds: "Although I am not Italian, I felt at home when I arrived here. The first impressions of the Jubilee filled my heart with joy. This is the first one in my life, as I was not born during the previous one. I see the Jubilee as an opportunity to meet ourselves, others and Jesus. I came to Rome to meet the pillars that support my faith, and I have received many other blessings from God."
As we left the Basilica, the wind was cold, but there was the warmth of smiles on the welcoming faces of the volunteers, many of whom sacrificed part of their Christmas night to support the ceremony. This was the first night of the 2025 Jubilee. The square reinforces its role as a place where paths and stories meet. We look forward to many more testimonies of hope coming to the Eternal City.
Journalist in Rome
