Thousands of Europeans welcomed Christmas with great enthusiasm. Masses were held all over the continent and were attended by thousands of faithful.
HE Pope Francisco Holy Year 2025 opened this Tuesday. It is a celebration of the Catholic Church in the Vatican. Pope from his wheelchair He knocked on the Holy Door of St. Peter’s Basilica several times before opening.
The well-known tradition was inaugurated with a ceremony in the Vatican. jubileeIt is a holiday celebrated every quarter century. The Jubilee is intended to be a period of reflection, reconciliation and renewal. It is usually marked with a a wide range of cultural and religious eventsLike masses and concerts, its purpose is to inspire Catholic believers to make pilgrimages, repent, and forgive the sins of others. The Head of the Catholic Church dedicated this anniversary to the theme of hope.
“My sisters and brothers, this is the Jubilee. time for hopeWhere we are invited to rediscover the joy of encountering the Lord. “The Jubilee calls us to spiritual renewal and commits us to transforming our world, so that this year will truly become a time of joy,” Pope Francis said, addressing those attending the mass in St. Peter’s Basilica.
The Pope asked the faithful to: give hope to the world. Emphasizing the importance of doing so, he said: “We are called to bring hope to the oppressed, to the weary who do not have the strength to move forward, to all those who suffer from the pains of failure and are heartbroken.”
“Bring hope there, sow hope there. The jubilee has begun Now so that everyone may have hope.” Francis will underline this message of hope. The Holy Door in the Roman prison Rebibbia. The initiative aims to instill hope for a better future in the hearts of prison inmates.
Notre Dame de Paris celebrates first Christmas Eve mass since 2019 fire
Five years after a devastating fire nearly destroyed the city’s beloved 12th-century cathedral. Notre Dame hosts Christmas Eve services again. The Gothic structure, which took two centuries to build, went through intensive restoration work and was closed to worship for five years. It reopened its doors to visitors and faithful on December 7.
Four different masses were celebrated in the cathedral on Christmas Eve. Thousands of people attended the first two; many of them were believers, while others admired the richness of the region. restoration.
the main ritual took place at midnight Its chairman was Paris Archbishop Laurent Ulrich, who led the reopening ceremony together with French President Emmanuel Macron a few weeks ago.
“Last year, I spoke to you disguised as a construction worker at our cathedral, which was under construction. Return to Notre DameOur hearts, newly opened to worship and visit, are celebrating. we returned home“Ulrich said in a message before the midnight ceremony.
Notre Dame is just one symbolic place For Parisians, but for everyone. Tourists from all over the world booked their trips to attend the cathedral service.
“I’m absolutely blown away, it’s incredible. It’s absolutely beautiful. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience to be involved in this tonight.” pretty good experience. It’s very moving,” said Lori Fleet, an American tourist visiting family in the French capital.
After the 2019 fire, almost $1 billion (€961.2 million) came from around the world to support restoration; this is a tribute to its global appeal and appreciation. UNESCO-approved World Heritage Site.
Greece welcomes Christmas
Thousands of Athenians gathered in front of Athens City Hall in the capital on Christmas Eve to make a wish. release paper lanterns in the night sky.
The annual event takes place centrally and at popular locations plaza de Kotziaand this year it was chaired by Athens mayor Haris Doukas. Doukas said, “This is a night of wishes. We brought together thousands of people and thousands of wishes. Lanterns are now floating in the skies of Athens. We are very happy. Athens is celebrating this, it turns into a very big and very beautiful event.”
