The ceremony began with a prayer recited by the Cardinal Archpriest of Saint Peter's Basilica, Angelo Comastri. The Cardinal then led a procession of the Chapter of Canons of Saint Peter's to the Holy Door, where an explanation of the significance of this ceremony was given by one of the Masters of Ceremonies.
Four cobblestones were then chiseled from the wall that seals the Holy Door inside the Basilica and a metal case was extracted from a small vault within the door. This metal case was placed there at the close of the last Jubilee Year (in 2000) and contains the documentation relevant to the last Holy Year, as well as the keys which will open the Holy Door, the door handles, the parchment deed and commemorative medals.
The procession then moved to the Altar of the Confession, where there was a moment of prayer, and then to the Chapter Room where the metal box taken from the Holy Door was opened with a blow torch. In addition to the Chapter of Canons, Archbishop Rino Fisichella, President of the Pontifical Council for the Promotion of the New Evangelization was in attendance, as was the Papal Master of Ceremonies, Monsignor Guido Marini. Monsignor Marini has now taken possession of the documents and objects of Recognition.
On Monday of this week (November 16), the same ceremony took place in the Basilica of Saint John Lateran; on Thursday (November 19), it will be held at Saint Mary Major and next Monday (November 23), it will take place at Saint Paul Outside the Walls.
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