Pope closes 2025 Holy Year and signals his pontificate can now begin

Pope Leo XIV closed the Holy Door at St. Peter's Basilica on Jan. 6 to end the 2025 Jubilee, and he has summoned the world's cardinals for two days of meetings beginning Wednesday to discuss church governance and the liturgy.

Pope Leo XIV formally closed the Holy Door at St. Peter's Basilica at the start of Mass for the feast of the Epiphany, bringing the 2025 Jubilee to an official end. The yearlong celebration ran through a transition in the papacy after the Jubilee was opened in December 2024 by Pope Francis. The Holy Year drew large numbers of visitors to Rome and prompted a range of public works projects in the city. The pope has called the world's cardinals to a two-day meeting that begins Wednesday, a step presented as part of moving into the governance phase of his pontificate. Key details: - The ceremony took place at the threshold of the Holy Door, where the pope knelt in prayer and then closed the two doors to mark the Jubilee's completion. - The Vatican reported about 33.5 million pilgrims participated in the Jubilee period, while acknowledging that figure is a rough estimate and could include double counting. - Only once before, in 1700, has a Holy Year been opened by one pope and closed by another. - Rome used the Jubilee as an opportunity for major public works, with officials citing some 4 billion euros in related projects to update infrastructure and public spaces. - The pope has summoned cardinals for two days of meetings beginning Wednesday; the liturgy is listed on the agenda alongside broader governance matters. Summary: The closing ceremony marks the formal end of the 2025 Jubilee and highlights how the year included both a papal succession and large pilgrim numbers reported by the Vatican. The pope's summons to cardinals signals a shift toward addressing governance matters, including debates over the liturgy. The next ordinary Jubilee has been announced for 2033.