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.

Christmas revellers around the world donned red and white Santa hats, offered meals to the homeless and lit candles on Wednesday, as Pope Francis launched observation of the global holiday with a sombre mass in the Vatican.