Philadelphia Archdiocese, In Solidarity With Pope, Prepares To Launch Year Of Mercy
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Pope Francis inaugurates a Jubilee year of mercy this week from the Vatican, and the Archdiocese of Philadelphia will be launching events in the city, as well.
Father Dennis Gill, rector of the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul, says the Holy Father will kick off events at St. Peter's Basilica in Rome on the feast of the Immaculate Conception on Tuesday.
He says when Pope Francis visited Philadelphia in September he spoke of how important this observance is.
"Mercy and the divine mercy of the Lord is a particular passion of our Holy Father," he says, "and so he wants to assist all of us being more aware of the great gift of mercy through the church to the people of today."
In communion with the pope, Gill says Archbishop Charles Chaput will preside at ceremonies next Sunday. He says Chaput - modeling the example of Pope Francis - will also designate one of the doors of the basilica as a Holy Door.
"When someone passes through the Holy Door," Gill says, "they're actually passing through Christ who is the gate – a sign of passing through Christ who helps us turn away from our sins and our attachment to sin and to be filled with his life, with his grace."
Gill says the archdiocese also will encourage pilgrimages in the coming year to the cathedral as well as five other shrines in the archdiocese.