This Saturday, June 29, 2024, Pope Francis presided, in Saint Peter’s Basilica, over the Eucharistic celebration of the solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul, in which approximately 5,500 faithful participated and more than 200 priests concelebrated.
The Pope blessed and presented the pallium to the new archbishops © iubilaeum2025.va
On this occasion, he spoke of the exemplary life of the holy apostles Peter and Paul, and dwelt particularly on the image of the door, especially in view of the upcoming opening of the Holy Door, which will mark the beginning of the ordinary Jubilee of 2025.
« In the story of Peter and Paul, there are also doors that open “, the Pope explained in his homily. Ils have had this experience of grace. They have touched with their fingers the work of God that has opened the doors of their inner prison (…). The Lord has also opened before them the doors of evangelization so that they can experience the joy of meeting their brothers and sisters in the nascent communities and can bring to all the hope of the Gospel. »
The Holy Father concluded by praying that ” Saints Peter and Paul help us to open the door of our life to the Lord Jesus, may they intercede for us, for the city of Rome and for the whole world. »
The Bronze statue of St Peter was covered with a cope and a tiara for the occasion © facebook.com/vaticannews.fr
According to tradition, he then blessed and presented the new archbishops with the pallium, the distinctive ornament of metropolitan archbishops. This year, there were 42 archbishops from five continents to receive the pallium from the hands of Pope Francis: “ LArchbishops are called to be zealous pastors who open the doors of the Gospel and who, through their ministry, contribute to the building of a Church and a society with open doors. »
At the end of the celebration, the Holy Father prayed before the famous statue of Saint Peter, which was dressed, as every year, in solemn pontifical vestments: a red and gold cope, and a tiara. Pope Francis also stopped to pray at the entrance to the basilica at the tomb of the “Prince of the Apostles,” the principle of unity and foundation on which the Church is built.
