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St. Peter's Basilica erected over the hallowed grave of the first vicar of Christ on earth,

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is the setting for an inspiring series of religious functions in 1950.

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Here since 1300 AD, the faithful have responded to the Jubilee or Holy Year

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call of the Holy Fathers, hastening to Rome truly penitent.

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From every walk of life, from every quarter of the civilized world,

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they make their way to the Eternal City, spiritual world capital of the Catholic Church.

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Along the historic Appian Way, young priests trapped the ancient flagstones,

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aware that before them countless millions have passed, saints, martyrs, infidels,

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the humble and the great, yes even St. Peter himself.

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For this is a high road from Campania to Rome, constructed in 312 BC.

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The tiny chapel of Covada stands on the spot where Christ appeared to St. Peter to give him

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a renewed faith and courage to continue his divine mission and brave the threat of a martyr's death.

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It is a tradition that this protected stone holds an impression of the Savior's feet.

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As the Pilgrim of today enters Rome from the south, the crumbling walls of the Colosseum

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remind him of martyrs who here suffered for their faith that their sacrifices

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might turn the minds of men from darkness to light.

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Then the lovely bell tower of the St. Mary Major Basilica atop the Esquiline,

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noted for its striking mosaics. Here one of the Holy Doors is seen.

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St. Paul's Basilica outside the walls is situated as its name indicates beyond the walls of ancient Rome.

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Once every year the reigning pontiff celebrates mass here in honor of the

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martyred apostle and within the Basilica is one of the Holy Doors.

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Finally the Pilgrim visits St. John Lateran, the Cathedral of Rome, which also has one of the Holy Doors.

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A momentous decade has passed since Eugenio Cardinal Pacelli became Pope Pius XII,

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a decade of war and world upheaval. The shadow of impending events falls upon the

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colorful ceremonies of the coronation and sobers everyone in attendance from the lowliest of the

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faithful to members of the Italian royal family.

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None who receives the papal blessing forgets this day and no one doubts that a storm of events may

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beat upon the fortress of the church but leave her in violet. For here is enthroned a spiritual

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power that no godless philosophy may ever hope to vanquish.

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Christmas Eve 1949 and Pope Pius XII surrounded by the hierarchy of the church inaugurates the

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Holy Year of 1950 by striking the Holy Door and intoning open unto me the gates of justice.

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The choir responds I will go into them and praise the Lord. Then the massive Holy Door is slowly

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lowered at the same instant the Holy Doors and the other three Basilicas are open. As his entourage

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watches reverently his holiness will kneel for the Jubilee prayer in which he asks that the Holy

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Year be for all, a year of purification and reparation, a year of great return and great

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forgiveness. His holiness is the first to enter the Holy Door of St. Peter's but he will be

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followed by thousands of pilgrims of high and low degree during the year ushered in by this

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solemn ceremony. They also will visit the other three Basilicas as required for the Jubilee

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indulgence. Now more than ever before the pontiff's days are crowded. Each morning a Vatican

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attendant prepares his private chapel for devotion. Preparations are made for audiences

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in the beautiful Clementine room hung with priceless canvases by Raphael, Michelangelo

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and other Renaissance painters. Now the spiritual leader of millions quietly enters the audience

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chamber with a democratic simplicity that puts everyone at ease. Even non-Catholics who may be

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present cannot fail to be aware that there is about the person of this tall dignified man,

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something indefinable, something exalted. People of all nations are received regardless of race

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or creed whether unknown or famous, rich or poor. All may speak with the Holy Father,

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request his advice, ask him to pray for the sick and afflicted or the success of some worthy

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endeavor. His holiness listens to each one and considers each problem with such attentiveness,

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compassion and fatherly kindness that one feels his burden lightened, his heart lifted and his

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soul attuned to a spiritual eminence.

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And this is a great boon to the pilgrim, leaving him with a deeper sense of the great purpose of

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the pilgrimage, to receive the extraordinary plenary indulgence granted by the Holy Father

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to all being truly repentant, confessing their sins, receiving Holy Communion,

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then visiting the four basilicas and meeting other Holy Year requirements.

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And now the audience completed, the Pope reassumes the majesty of his office and

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bestows his benediction on the gathering. At some time every day the pontiff retires

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to work in seclusion, allowing himself only the brief relaxation of a short stroll in the

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Vatican gardens. Here his white silhouette seems to add to the peace and serenity around him.

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The first large group of American pilgrims arrives in Rome and enters St. Peter's,

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led by Francis Cardinal Spellman, Archbishop of New York. Each American bishop will lead

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his followers to the Holy Doors and kneel in prayer before passing through the portals.

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Marking the solemnity of the occasion, Holy Mass is celebrated by his eminence Cardinal Spellman,

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a vast church thronged with worshippers, including more than 500 Americans who have

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made the pilgrimage with their archbishop. St. Peter's is thronged with pilgrims on the

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occasion of every ceremony of the Jubilee year when his holiness is majestically carried aloft

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in the city of Justatoria, surrounded by the Swiss guards in their Michelangelo designed uniforms,

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together with high prelates, priests and Vatican attendants.

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Later his holiness receives Cardinal Spellman, Prince of the Church and warm personal friend.

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The emotional peak of the pilgrimage comes when the faithful kiss the papal ring,

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and the devout will pray at hallowed shrines for the Jubilee indulgence as they have prayed

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through the centuries to gain peace of mind and soul, to renew strength of faith with divine grace,

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and then to return to their homes thankful for the privileges of the holy year of 1950.