Dec 8, 2015

Pope Francis pushed open the great bronze doors of St. Peter’s Basilica on Tuesday to launch his Holy Year of Mercy, declaring that mercy trumps moralizing in his Catholic Church.

Francis stood in prayer on the threshold of the basilica’s Holy Door then walked through it, the first of an estimated 10 million faithful who will pass through over the course of the next year in a rite of pilgrimage dating back centuries.

A thin and frail Emeritus Pope Benedict XVI walked through the doorway right after Francis, gingerly negotiating the two steps with the help of a cane and his longtime assistant. It was a rare outing for the 88-year-old Benedict, whose historic resignation led to Francis’ election and a papacy dedicated to showing the merciful side of the church.

Some 5,000 extra police, carabinieri and soldiers have been deployed around Rome, and a no-fly zone imposed on its skies, to protect the pilgrims who are flocking to Rome on foot, by car, train and plane to participate in the yearlong celebration.

: A general view of St. Peter’s Square during the holy Mass and opening of the Holy Door of St. Peter’s Basilica held by Pope Francis on December 8, 2015 in Vatican City, Vatican. During the solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Pope Francis solemnly inaugurated the Jubilee Year of Mercy with the celebration of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. This Extraordinary Holy Year is itself a gift of grace,’ the Pope said in his homily (Photo by Franco Origlia/Getty Images)

: Priests attend the holy Mass and opening of the Holy Door of St. Peter’s Basilica held by Pope Francis on December 8, 2015 in Vatican City, Vatican. During the solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Pope Francis solemnly inaugurated the Jubilee Year of Mercy with the celebration of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. This Extraordinary Holy Year is itself a gift of grace,’ the Pope said in his homily (Photo by Franco Origlia/Getty Images)

: A pilgrim waves a French national flag on St Peter’s square before the start of the Jubilee Year of Mercy, on December 8, 2015 in Vatican. Pope Francis marks the start of an extraordinary Jubilee year for the world’s 1.2 billion Catholics by opening a “Holy Door” in the walls of St Peter’s basilica. At 9.30 am (0830 GMT), the Argentinian pontiff will pronounce the words “Aperite mihi Porta Iustitiae” — Latin for “open to me the gates of justice” — and the door, which is normally bricked up, will be opened. (AFP Photo/Vincenzo Pinto)

: A Vatican employee pours hosts into a chalice which will be given to faithful during the communion in St. Peter’s Square on the occasion of a Mass celebrated by Pope Francis for the opening of the Holy Door of St. Peter’s Basilica, which formally starts the Jubilee of Mercy, at the Vatican, Tuesday, Dec. 8, 2015. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)

: Nuns wait at St Peter’s square before the start of the Jubilee Year of Mercy, on December 8, 2015 in Vatican. Pope Francis marks the start of an extraordinary Jubilee year for the world’s 1.2 billion Catholics by opening a “Holy Door” in the walls of St Peter’s basilica. At 9.30 am (0830 GMT), the Argentinian pontiff will pronounce the words “Aperite mihi Porta Iustitiae” — Latin for “open to me the gates of justice” — and the door, which is normally bricked up, will be opened. (AFP Photo/Alberto Pizzoli)

: Priests attend the holy Mass and opening of the Holy Door of St. Peter’s Basilica held by Pope Francis on December 8, 2015 in Vatican City, Vatican. During the solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Pope Francis solemnly inaugurated the Jubilee Year of Mercy with the celebration of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. This Extraordinary Holy Year is itself a gift of grace,’ the Pope said in his homily (Photo by Franco Origlia/Getty Images)

: A Swiss guard helps a colleague to adjust his helmet at St Peter’s square before the start of the Jubilee Year of Mercy, on December 8, 2015 in Vatican. Pope Francis marks the start of an extraordinary Jubilee year for the world’s 1.2 billion Catholics by opening a “Holy Door” in the walls of St Peter’s basilica. At 9.30 am (0830 GMT), the Argentinian pontiff will pronounce the words “Aperite mihi Porta Iustitiae” — Latin for “open to me the gates of justice” — and the door, which is normally bricked up, will be opened. (AFP Photo/Vincenzo Pinto)

: Pope Francis opens a “Holy Door” at St Peter’s basilica to mark the start of the Jubilee Year of Mercy, on December 8, 2015 in Vatican. In Catholic tradition, the opening of “Holy Doors” in Rome symbolises an invitation from the Church to believers to enter into a renewed relationship with God. (AFP Photo/Vincenzo Pinto)

: Pope Francis pushes open the Holy Door of St. Peter’s Basilica, formally launching the Holy Year of Mercy, at the Vatican, Tuesday, Dec. 8, 2015. Pope Francis pushed open the great bronze doors of St. Peter’s Basilica to launch his Holy Year of Mercy, declaring that mercy trumps moralizing in his Catholic Church. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)

: Pope Francis pushes open the Holy Door of St. Peter’s Basilica, formally launching the Holy Year of Mercy, at the Vatican, Tuesday, Dec. 8, 2015. Francis stood in prayer on the threshold of the basilica’s Holy Door then walked through it, the first of an estimated 10 million faithful who will pass through over the course of the next year in a rite of pilgrimage dating back centuries. (L’Osservatore Romano/Pool Photo via AP)

: Pope Francis opens a “Holy Door” at St Peter’s basilica to mark the start of the Jubilee Year of Mercy, on December 8, 2015 in Vatican. In Catholic tradition, the opening of “Holy Doors” in Rome symbolises an invitation from the Church to believers to enter into a renewed relationship with God. (AFP Photo/Alberto Pizzoli)

: Pope Francis opens the Holy Door of St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican, Tuesday, Dec. 8, 2015. Pope Francis pushed open the great bronze doors of St. Peter’s Basilica on Tuesday to launch his Holy Year of Mercy, declaring that mercy trumps moralizing in his Catholic Church. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

: Pope Francis opens a “Holy Door” at St Peter’s basilica to mark the start of the Jubilee Year of Mercy, on December 8, 2015 in Vatican. In Catholic tradition, the opening of “Holy Doors” in Rome symbolizes an invitation from the Church to believers to enter into a renewed relationship with God. (Alberto Pizzolia/AFP/Getty Images)

: Pope Francis enters St. Peter’s Basilica after opening the Holy Door, at the Vatican, Tuesday, Dec. 8, 2015. Pope Francis pushed open the great bronze doors of St. Peter’s Basilica on Tuesday to launch his Holy Year of Mercy, declaring that mercy trumps moralizing in his Catholic Church. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

: Pope Francis leads other prelates as he walks inside St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican, Tuesday, Dec. 8, 2015. Pope Francis pushed open the great bronze doors of St. Peter’s Basilica on Tuesday to launch his Holy Year of Mercy, declaring that mercy trumps moralizing in his Catholic Church. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

: Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI (C) is helped by the prefect of the papal household Georg Gaenswein (R) as he walks past Pope Francis in St Peter’s basilica after the opening of the “Holy Door” to mark the start of the Jubilee Year of Mercy, on December 8, 2015 in Vatican. Pope Francis marks the start of an extraordinary Jubilee year for the world’s 1.2 billion Catholics by opening a “Holy Door” in the walls of St Peter’s basilica. At 9.30 am (0830 GMT), the Argentinian pontiff will pronounce the words “Aperite mihi Porta Iustitiae” — Latin for “open to me the gates of justice” — and the door, which is normally bricked up, will be opened. (AFP Photo/Alberto Pizzoli)

: Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI enters St. Peter’s Basilica accompanied by Monsignor Georg Gaenswein, right, at the Vatican, Tuesday, Dec. 8, 2015. Pope Francis pushed open the great bronze doors of St. Peter’s Basilica on Tuesday to launch his Holy Year of Mercy, declaring that mercy trumps moralizing in his Catholic Church. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

: This handout picture released by the Vatican press office shows Pope Francis (L) welcoming Pope emeritus Benedict XVI before the opening of the “Holy Door” to mark the start of the Jubilee Year of Mercy, on December 8, 2015 in Vatican. Pope Francis marks the start of an extraordinary Jubilee year for the world’s 1.2 billion Catholics by opening a “Holy Door” in the walls of St Peter’s basilica. At 9.30 am (0830 GMT), the Argentinian pontiff will pronounce the words “Aperite mihi Porta Iustitiae” — Latin for “open to me the gates of justice” — and the door, which is normally bricked up, will be opened. (AFP Photo/Osservatore Romano)

: Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, right, hugs Pope Francis in St. Peter’s Basilica during the ceremony marking the start of the Holy Year, at the Vatican, Tuesday, Dec. 8, 2015. Pope Francis pushed open the great bronze doors of St. Peter’s Basilica on Tuesday to launch his Holy Year of Mercy, declaring that mercy trumps moralizing in his Catholic Church. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)

: Pope Francis walks inside St. Peter’s Basilica, at the Vatican, Tuesday, Dec. 8, 2015. Pope Francis pushed open the great bronze doors of St. Peter’s Basilica on Tuesday to launch his Holy Year of Mercy, declaring that mercy trumps moralizing in his Catholic Church. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

: A worshiper touches the “Holy Door” opened by Pope Francis at St Peter’s basilica to mark the start of the Jubilee Year of Mercy, on December 8, 2015 in Vatican. In Catholic tradition, the opening of “Holy Doors” in Rome symbolises an invitation from the Church to believers to enter into a renewed relationship with God. (AFP Photo/Vincenzo Pinto)

: Worshipers pass by the “Holy Door” opened by Pope Francis at St Peter’s basilica to mark the start of the Jubilee Year of Mercy, on December 8, 2015 in Vatican. In Catholic tradition, the opening of “Holy Doors” in Rome symbolises an invitation from the Church to believers to enter into a renewed relationship with God. (AFP Photo/Vincenzo Pinto)

: A woman touches the Holy Door of St. Peter’s Basilica, at the Vatican, Tuesday, Dec. 8, 2015. Pope Francis pushed open the great bronze doors of St. Peter’s Basilica on Tuesday to launch his Holy Year of Mercy, declaring that mercy trumps moralizing in his Catholic Church. (Maurizio Brambatti/ANSA via AP)

: Pope Francis leads a mass for the start of the Jubilee Year of Mercy, on December 8, 2015 at St Peter’s square in Vatican. Pope Francis marks the start of an extraordinary Jubilee year for the world’s 1.2 billion Catholics by opening a “Holy Door” in the walls of St Peter’s basilica. At 9.30 am (0830 GMT), the Argentinian pontiff will pronounce the words “Aperite mihi Porta Iustitiae” — Latin for “open to me the gates of justice” — and the door, which is normally bricked up, will be opened. (AFP Photo/Vincenzo Pinto)

: Pope Francis attends the holy Mass and opening of the Holy Door of St. Peter’s Basilica on December 8, 2015 in Vatican City, Vatican. During the solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Pope Francis solemnly inaugurated the Jubilee Year of Mercy with the celebration of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. This Extraordinary Holy Year is itself a gift of grace,’ the Pope said in his homily (Photo by Franco Origlia/Getty Images)

: Pope Francis celebrates a Mass prior to the opening of the Holy Door of St. Peter’s Basilica, formally starting the Holy Year of Mercy, at the Vatican, Tuesday, Dec. 8, 2015. Francis launched the 12-month jubilee to emphasize what has become the leitmotif of his papacy: to show the merciful and welcoming side of a Catholic Church more often known for its moralizing and judgment. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)

: In this photo taken with a fish-eye lens Pope Francis prays in front of a statue of the Virgin Mary, atop of the column, on the occasion of the Immaculate Conception’s feast, in Rome, Tuesday, Dec. 8, 2015. Pope Francis opened the great bronze doors of St. Peter’s Basilica on Tuesday to launch his Holy Year of Mercy, declaring that mercy trumps moralizing in his Catholic Church. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)

: Pope Francis looks up at a statue of the Virgin Mary before praying in front of it, on the occasion of the Immaculate Conception’s feast, in Rome, Tuesday, Dec. 8, 2015. Pope Francis pushed open the great bronze doors of St. Peter’s Basilica on Tuesday to launch his Holy Year of Mercy, declaring that mercy trumps moralizing in his Catholic Church. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)

Pope opens the church’s Holy Doors, launching the Holy Year of Mercy

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