Answer:
The tradition of the Holy Door ceremony dates back to the first Holy Year proclaimed by Pope Boniface VIII in 1300. Pilgrims who passed through the Holy Door of St. Peter‘s Basilica during that Jubilee were granted a plenary indulgence, a spiritual grace symbolizing reconciliation with God. Over time, the ritual became a central feature of every Jubilee Year, with the Holy Door remaining sealed between Jubilees and ceremonially opened by the Pope at the start of each Holy Year. The act of opening the door is rich in symbolism: it represents Christ as the ‘door’ to salvation and the Church as a welcoming refuge for all who seek mercy and renewal.
This centuries-old tradition is powerfully echoed in the Vatican‘s 2025 philatelic envelope and special postmark. Issued on February 27, 2025, the envelope features an image of Pope Francis in the moment of opening the Holy Door of St. Peter‘s Basilica , an act that inaugurates the Jubilee and invites the faithful into a year of grace. The envelope‘s imprinted stamp, valued at 3.20, includes the official Jubilee 2025 logo and was designed by artist Daniela Fusco. The accompanying circular postmark, used at the Vatican post office in St. Peter‘s Square on the day of issue, bears the inscription BUSTA FILATELICA, DIE EMISSIONIS 27.02.2025, and POSTE VATICANE, along with a stylized depiction of the Pope at the Holy Door.
Together, the envelope and postmark form a modern philatelic homage to a ritual that has shaped Catholic spirituality for over seven centuries. They not only commemorate the 2025 Jubilee but also connect collectors and the faithful alike to a living tradition of mercy, pilgrimage, and hope.
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