Before close of Jubilee Year, final events scheduled at Vatican
November 03, 2016
At a November 3 press conference in Rome, Archbishop Rino Fisichella, the president of the Pontifical Council for the New Evangelization, outlined plans for the last two major events before the close of the Jubilee Year: the Jubilee for Prisoners on November 5-6 and the Jubilee of the Socially Excluded on November 11-13.
In outlining plans for the Year of Mercy, Pope Francis had specifically mentioned prisoners, Archbishop Fisichella recalled. The Pontiff has written to all the world’s bishops, encouraging them to join in the Jubilee for Prisoners on November 5-6 by visiting jails. About 4,000 people have responded to a papal invitation to participate in the ceremonies in Rome.
Prisoners and their families, along with prison officials and chaplains, have been invited to join in a program that will include opportunities for Confession in the Jubilee churches of Rome, a pilgrimage down the Via della Conciliazone to pass through the Holy Door of the Vatican basilica, and Mass on Sunday.
The Jubilee for the Socially Excluded will take place the following weekend. This event, Archbishop Fisichella said, is for “those who for different reasons—from economic precariousness to various illnesses, from loneliness to the lack of family bonds—have difficulty in inserting themselves in the social fabric and often remain at the margins of society.” About 6,000 people have registered. The events will include a Friday meeting with Pope Francis in the Paul VI auditorium, Saturday sharing sessions in several Roman churches, a vigil at the basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls, and Mass in St. Peters on Sunday morning.
Jubilee organizers report that to date nearly 20 million people have participated in events organized in Rome for the Year of Mercy.
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Further information:
- Archbishop Fisichella presents the Jubilee of prisoners and the socially marginalised (Vatican press office)
- Abp Fisichella presents closing events for Jubilee of Mercy (Vatican Radio)
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