Almost one year after the pope initiated the Jubilee Year of Mercy and opened the Holy Doors at St. Peter's Basilica, he will now close them on Sunday with a Mass at 10 a.m., thus ending the year dedicated to mercy.
There have been more than 20 million pilgrims who have made the trip to Rome to pass through the Holy Doors in the past year.
Pope Francis wanted to make the possibility of a plenary indulgence widely available, so everyone could attain total remission of all temporal punishment due to sin. Thus, each diocese around the world had a Holy Door and it is estimated that more than 1 billion people have participated in the Year of Mercy.
Since the beginning of the 14th century, there have been 26 ordinary Jubilee Years, which occur every 25-50 years. Additionally, there have been three 'Extraordinary Jubileeâ? Years, which are announced without much advanced planning, like this one.
In addition to closing the Doors, on Saturday the pope will preside at the Consistory for the creation of 17 new cardinals, 13 of them who are under age 80 and able to vote in an eventual conclave.
The Mass on Sunday will be the first Mass celebrated with all of the new cardinals and Pope Francis.
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