Pope Francis inaugurated his Holy Year at Rome’s main prison on Thursday, bringing a message of hope to inmates and involving them in the Catholic Church’s once every quarter-century celebration that is expected to bring about 32 million pilgrims to Rome.

Pope Francis has inaugurated his Holy Year at Rome’s main prison, taking a message of hope to inmates and involving them in the Catholic Church’s once every quarter-century celebration which is expected to bring about 32 million pilgrims to Rome.

Mass, Pope Francis opened the Holy Door of St. Peter’s Basilica, inaugurating the Jubilee of 2025. This year-long period of spiritual purification has been observed every 25 years in Rome since the early 14th century.