The Vatican is preparing for the Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy summoned by Pope Francisco, an event surrounded by tight security in two days starting with the opening of the Holy Door.
Will be the occasion for Catholics from around the world open "the eyes of the miseries of the world," avoid "destroying cynicism" and "humiliating indifference" and show mercy to the poor.
That is the will of Pope Francisco, as explained in the Bull of convocation, consisting of 25 points and entitled "Misericordiae Vultus" sets the lines that this Jubilee will end on November 20, 2016.
Today, two days before, Jorge Bergoglio wished "good preparation" to individual pilgrims already in Rome, but also those who arrive in the Italian capital and those who live the Holy Year in their countries.
The Jubilee will begin on December 8 with the rite of the opening of the Holy Door of St. Peter's Basilica, which is only open during the jubilee.
Will be a "very simple" ceremony, recently he explained the president of Pontifical Council for Promoting the New Evangelization, Rino Fisichella, and she will come thousands of pilgrims from all over the world and the presence of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI is also expected.
At 9.30 local time (8.30 GMT), the pope will cross the threshold of the Holy Door and head, followed by cardinals, bishops, religious and lay, to the tomb of the Apostle Peter.
After the Mass, the Pope will pray the Angelus and, in the evening, attend the Spain Square, in the heart of Rome, to preside over the celebrations of the Immaculate Conception.
And late in the afternoon, on the facade of the Vatican Basilica and the dome a series of photographs that present images inspired by mercy, in humanity, in the natural world and climate change will be screened.
St. John Lateran, St. Mary Major and St. Paul Outside the Walls: Also during the following days also the holy doors of the other three major basilicas of the Italian capital will open.
This Jubilee, the first Jesuit pontiff will have a special significance, as it is celebrated on the fiftieth anniversary of the closing of Vatican Council II (1962-1965).
But besides being extraordinary, the Jubilee will be universal at the express request of Pope Francisco, for the opening ceremony of the Holy Doors will take place in every diocese in the world.
A symbolic gesture that the Catholic Church facilitated that those wanting to cross one of these holy doors can get a Jubilee indulgence.
During the Holy Year, symbolic gestures that made the potato poor and needy, and also hold general audiences dramatically one Saturday each month happen.
Rome is preparing for months for the arrival of hundreds of pilgrims with improvements in their streets and in their public transport.
In addition, after the attacks in Paris on 13 November, which caused 130 deaths, the Italian Government has also prepared the capital measures that have strengthened their security.
From today until December 9, Rome has banned the transport of weapons, ammunition, explosives and other pyrotechnic products and the opening day of the Jubilee is also prohibited the transport of "fuels and methane."
In addition, on 8 December, the Executive will implement the presence of security forces in the streets of the capital and the Vatican, and will not allow overfly the airspace in these areas.
These preventive measures are in addition to those already deployed in recent weeks as increased surveillance in the streets and policemen at sensitive places like the Colosseum and the Vatican, increased controls metal detecting or monitoring access roads pilgrims to the city, from airports to highways, seaports as well as that of Civitavecchia.
The tradition of the Holy Year dates back to 1300, under Pope Boniface VIII, who ruled celebrate every century.
However, since 1475 it happened to be convened every 25 years to allow each generation to live at least an ordinary Jubilee, while the extraordinary are announced following an event of special significance.
Years ordinary Santos held so far have been 26, the last in 2000, with the millennium and under the pontificate of John Paul II. EFE