The Metropolitan Archbishop of Accra, Most Rev. John Bonaventure Kwofie, CSSp, on Sunday, December 28, 2025, ceremonially closed the Holy Door at the Holy Spirit Cathedral, Adabraka, marking the end of the local observance of the 2025 Jubilee Year of Hope within the Catholic Archdiocese of Accra.
The solemn rite, held during a Eucharistic celebration attended by clergy, religious, and lay faithful, brought to a close a year-long period of prayer, pilgrimage, repentance, and spiritual renewal for Catholics in the Archdiocese. The closing of the Holy Door symbolized the completion of a sacred journey that invited the faithful to encounter God’s mercy and deepen their commitment to Christian living.
In his message, Archbishop Kwofie expressed gratitude to God for the spiritual fruits of the Jubilee.
“Today, we offer thanksgiving to God for the gift of His indulgence through prayer, charity, and pilgrimage. We have had an intense experience of divine mercy,” he said.
“The Lord has washed away our sins and filled us with His grace. Throughout this year, through the movement of the liturgy, we have entered more deeply into the mystery of Christ in faith, hope, and grace.”
He urged the faithful to carry the Jubilee experience into their daily lives. “Now strengthened by this experience of conversion, let us return to the daily rounds of our lives like the disciples who saw His face. Let us firmly maintain the profession of our hope through faithfulness and mercy,” the Archbishop added.
In Catholic tradition, the Holy Door (Porta Sancta) is a powerful symbol of Christ, who described Himself as “the door” through which all are saved. Holy Doors are opened only during Jubilee Years, special periods proclaimed by the Pope to emphasize forgiveness, reconciliation, and hope. Passing through the Holy Door signifies a spiritual transition from sin to grace and from old ways of life to renewed faith.
The 2025 Ordinary Jubilee, declared by Pope Francis under the theme “Pilgrims of Hope,” saw the opening of Holy Doors at the four major papal basilicas in Rome, including St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican. In communion with the Universal Church, dioceses around the world, including Accra, designated their cathedrals as pilgrimage sites for Jubilee observances.
Throughout the year, the Holy Spirit Cathedral served as a focal point for pilgrimage, confessions, special prayers, and catechesis, enabling the faithful to benefit from the spiritual graces associated with the Jubilee.
During the Jubilee Year, Catholics who visited designated pilgrimage churches, passed through the Holy Door, and fulfilled the required spiritual conditions, including sacramental confession, Holy Communion, and prayers for the intentions of the Pope, were able to receive a plenary indulgence, highlighting God’s boundless mercy.
Many faithful described the Jubilee as a period of profound reflection, healing, and renewed faith, especially in a world facing social, economic, and moral challenges.
Ordinary Jubilee Years in the Catholic Church are traditionally celebrated every 25 years. Following the 2025 Jubilee, the next Ordinary Jubilee is expected in 2050. However, Popes may also proclaim Extraordinary Jubilees in response to the needs of the Church and the world.
The closing ceremony thus marked not only the end of a sacred season but also a renewed call for Catholics to embody the values of the Jubilee in their daily lives, ensuring that the door of faith, mercy, and hope remains permanently open in their hearts.
By Theresa Kpordzo//Newswatchgh.com
