Pope closes Roman Catholic 'Holy Year' marked by lights and shadows
Sun Nov 20, 2016 | 7:02am EST
By Philip Pullella | VATICAN CITY
Pope Francis on Sunday closed the Roman Catholic Church's "Holy Year of Mercy," a period that inspired hope among many followers but was also marred by conflicts around the world and infighting within the Church itself.
At a solemn ceremony in St. Peter's Basilica, Francis closed its "Holy Door," through which the Vatican says some 20 million pilgrims walked since it was opened on Dec. 8, to seek special blessings and symbolically pass from sin to grace.
Holy Years normally take place every 25 years unless a pope decrees an extraordinary one - such as the one that closed on Sunday - to bring attention to a particular need or topic.
The next one was to be held in 2025 but the 79-year-old Francis, concerned about growing divisions and conflict in the world and polarization among Catholics, called a special one on the theme of mercy, a major part of his push for a less judgmental and more inclusive Church.''
http://www.reuters.com/article/us-pope-holyyear-idUSKBN13F0KK?il=0
