By Auxiliary Bishop Joseph Ha Chi-shing, OFM
In mid-May, I joined a pilgrimage group to Italy, and of course included a visit to Rome. During the Jubilee Year, a must in the itinerary was to pass through the Holy Door at the four major basilicas: St. Peter’s, St. Paul Outside the Walls, St. Mary Major, and St. John Lateran. Among these four basilicas, the most solemn ceremony for passing through the Holy Door took place at St. Peter’s Basilica. However, in reality, I was busy with some trivial pilgrimage group matters the night before and had no time to discuss with others how the group should pass through the Holy Door the next day. I thought perhaps we could slowly walk in while reciting the Lord’s Prayer, or perhaps sing the Jubilee theme song softly?
At that moment, a miracle occurred! Suddenly, someone reminded me that the Vatican had special arrangements for pilgrimage groups passing through the Holy Door during the Jubilee Year. Groups that booked online could receive special treatment and use a special pathway. I immediately went online to register, but unfortunately, as expected, it was already fully booked! However, another miracle occurred. Thank God, who will not let down those who work hard, we finally managed to book a time slot for the next morning after some twists and turns.
Early in the morning, everyone arrived at St. Peter’s Square with great enthusiasm. As soon as they got off the bus, they were overwhelmed by the crowd on the square, but the excited brothers and sisters did not stop for a moment and walked straight to the starting point near Castel Sant’Angelo, one kilometre away. After registering, the organisers handed us a big Jubilee pilgrimage cross. The pilgrimage group then slowly walked towards St. Peter’s, led by the cross.
We prayed and sang from time to time, expressing our hope of journeying from this world to the heavenly homeland through the litany of the saints, longing to reunite with them; we implored the heavenly Mother, the first Christian, through the Litany of Loreto, to intercede for the Church, especially for our newly elected Pope Leo XIV; we expressed our excitement and gratitude by singing ‘Pilgrims of Hope.’
Amidst the continuous prayers and with the guidance of volunteers, we entered St. Peter’s, a symbol of the universal Church, passed through the Holy Door, a symbol of God’s grace, and walked all the way to the tomb of St. Peter. There, we solemnly recited the Creed and, in accordance with the pope’s intentions, prayed the Lord’s Prayer, the Hail Mary, and the Glory Be. We are indeed a blessed group! Thank the Lord! Praise the Lord!
This summer, many Catholics will undoubtedly make a pilgrimage to the Vatican. I strongly recommend that everyone experience the special arrangements made for pilgrims during the Jubilee Year. Even if you are only a small group of three or five people, there is still an opportunity. Simply register at the starting point, and once there are 10 fellow travellers, the group can be formed! Of course, you will need to decide which language to use for prayer and singing; however, even though we come from different places, we are all brothers and sisters! In him, we are united as one!
