DOOR OF ST. PETER’S BASICILA SEALED TO MARK END OF HOLY YEAR

Wanganui Chronicle, 27 December 1950, Page 2

DOOR OF ST. PETER’S BASICILA SEALED TO MARK END OF HOLY YEAR

VATICAN CITY, Dec. 24 (Recd. 6 pm).—Using a golden trowel, the Pope sealed the holy door of St. Peter’s Basilica today, marking the end of the 1950 Holy Year in an elaborate ceremony.

Thousands of people gathered in and. around St. Peter’s Basilica to witness the ceremony, trudging thorugh the streets of Rome in heavy rain early this morning. In accordance with tradition, which has been observed for 650 years—since the present cycle of Holy Year celebrations began in 1300—the Pope was the last person to pass through the holy door into St. Peter’s. To the sound of cries of “Long live the Pope! ’ in a score of languages, the Pope entered the basilica in his gestatorial chair, swaying from side to side as he leaned forward to bless the crowd. After kneeling in prayer at the altar he removed his mitre and descended from the throne to sprinkle the "bricks and a silver bucket of mortar with holy water. A hush fell over the crowd as he knelt before the holy door and accepted the gold trowel from Cardinal Canali, and scooped up mortar. He placed the first brick in position, saying: “We place this first brick to close the holy door which will be opened every jubilee year.” Similar ceremonies were held at the same time in other basilicas where holy doors were closed. Later today Workmen will complete the sealing of the holy door in St. Peter’s. A total of 3000 bricks has bepn donated by families in Rome, each brick being stamped with the donor’s name. When the holy door is open again in 1975 the bricks will be returned to the families of the donors.