Pope Seals Holy Door: "The Jubilee Ends, but the Pilgrimage of Hope Continues"

In a solemn ceremony marking the conclusion of the Ordinary Jubilee of 2025, Pope Leo XIV officially closed the Holy Door of St. Peter’s Basilica on the Feast of the Epiphany, January 6, 2026.

Addressing a packed St. Peter’s Square and the faithful watching worldwide, the Holy Father emphasized that while the physical bronze door is now sealed, the Christian mission to be "pilgrims of hope" must continue with renewed vigor.

"The Holy Door of this Basilica, which was the last to be closed today, has known the flow of countless men and women," the Pope said in his homily. "They are pilgrims of hope on their way to the City with ever-open gates, the new Jerusalem."

A Year of Grace: The Legacy of Two Popes

The closing of St. Peter’s Holy Door brings to an end an intense spiritual journey that began over a year ago. The Jubilee Year was officially inaugurated by the late Pope Francis on December 24, 2024, when he opened the Holy Door at St. Peter’s, inviting the world to a time of mercy.

In the weeks leading up to today's final ceremony, the Holy Doors of the other three Papal Basilicas were also reverently closed:

• Basilica of St. Mary Major: Closed on December 24, 2025.

• Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls: Closed on December 27, 2025.

• Archbasilica of St. John Lateran: The Cathedral of Rome concluded its Jubilee observance on December 28, 2025.

Historic Numbers for the Eternal City

According to data released earlier by the Vatican, the Jubilee has been a historic event for Rome. Approximately 33.5 million pilgrims made the journey to the Eternal City throughout the Holy Year. Of these, over 3 million were recorded specifically visiting the Vatican to cross the threshold of the Holy Door, seeking mercy and spiritual renewal.

These pilgrims represented a diverse tapestry of the global Church, including significant delegations from across Asia, affirming the universal thirst for God in an increasingly complex world.

Rejection of Fear: The Magi vs. Herod

In his homily, Pope Leo XIV drew a sharp contrast between the "great joy" of the Magi and the "fear" of King Herod. He reflected on how the presence of God often disturbs the status quo.

"Surprising is the fact that it is precisely Jerusalem that is troubled," the Pope noted. "The city is frightened by those who come to it from afar, moved by hope."

He warned against the "Herod mindset", a fear that leads to aggression and a desire to control. He challenged the faithful to resist an "economy that tries to profit from everything," noting that "the market turns even the human thirst for searching... into business."

Instead, the Pope urged the Church to embrace the spirit of the Magi. "Homo viator, the ancients said. We are living on a journey," he said, calling on Catholics to ensure that parishes are not museums, but homes where "the unknown is a seeker" and "the distant is a neighbor."

A Call for Justice and Peace

Following the Mass, Pope Leo XIV led the recitation of the Angelus from the Loggia of the Basilica. He connected the gifts of the Magi, gold, frankincense, and myrrh, to the social justice themes that defined the Jubilee.

"The Jubilee has originally within itself the appeal to reorganize coexistence, to redistribute the earth and resources," the Pope stated. He stressed that true hope must generate "a new history down here," where "strangers and adversaries become brothers and sisters."

On this Feast of the Epiphany, which is also Missionary Childhood Day, the Pope sent a special message of gratitude to children worldwide who pray for missionaries. 

He also extended warm Christmas greetings to the Eastern Churches celebrating the Nativity on January 7 according to the Julian calendar, praying for "serenity and peace" for their families.

"Weaving Hope" for the Future

Concluding the historic day, the Holy Father left the faithful with a mandate for the post-Jubilee era.

"If we do not reduce our churches to monuments... if we resist united against the allure of the powerful, then we will be the generation of the dawn," Pope Leo XIV declared.

As the physical doors close, the Church is invited to open the doors of charity and solidarity, walking a new path not defined by the "delusions of omnipotence," but by the humble, transforming love of the God who became flesh.