The Holy Doors of the four papal basilicas of Rome, besides being symbols of great spiritual significance, are genuine works of art with fascinating aspects worth exploring.
Let's start with the Holy Door of St. Peter's Basilica, undoubtedly the most iconic, as its opening officially marks the beginning of the Jubilee celebrations. This masterpiece was created by the Tuscan sculptor Vico Consorti in 1950 on the occasion of the Jubilee proclaimed by Pope Pius XII.
The door, which weighs over 2 tons, is finely decorated with sixteen bronze panels, each depicting biblical episodes related to salvation, as well as the coats of arms of some of the popes who celebrated jubilees. Among the most significant panels are those portraying the “Annunciation to Mary”, the “Original Sin”, and the “Crucifixion of Christ”. Each panel was crafted with great attention to detail, and the scenes are not merely static representations but convey a sense of movement and drama. The chosen themes are meant to remind pilgrims of the importance of the journey of faith and spiritual conversion.
You should know that this is the only Holy Door of the four papal basilicas in Rome that was not replaced during the Jubilee of 2000.
In fact, being the first Jubilee of the new millennium and marking two-thousand years since the birth of Christ, to give more emphasis to the event, three new doors were created to replace the previous ones.
Consider that the Basilica of St. John Lateran, the cathedral of Rome and the Pope's seat as bishop of the city, previously boasted the oldest Holy Door in Rome, made of bronze in 1650. This was replaced in 2000 with a new door crafted by Floriano Bodini in green bronze. The piece is not divided into panels but features a single composition that develops vertically, depicting the entire life of Jesus from bottom to top, from his birth, sheltered in the tender embrace of his mother, to his death on the cross.
An interesting fact: perhaps you didn't know that the four papal basilicas in Rome are not the only existing basilicas with this title. There are, in fact, two others: the Basilica of St. Francis and the Basilica of St. Mary of the Angels, both located in Assisi.
Language: English