The Holy Door of the Papal Basilica of Saint Peter – Part 2 of 4

Posted on October 3, 2011 by Steve

The Holy Door of the Papal Basilica of Saint Peter in the State of the Vatican City was at one time made of wood. The present door is made of bronze and 16 panels can be viewed from the exterior. The door is sealed on the inside and is not scheduled to be opened again until the year 2025. Traditionally, the plaster sealing the door on the interior was loosened so that it would fall when the Pope struck three blows on it. However, in the Jubilee year 2000, the plaster had been removed so that Pope John Paul II needed only to push the door open with his hands. This was presumably done for safety reasons. Debris had fallen on Pope Paul VI when he opened the Holy Door in 1975.

The second four panels of the Holy Door depict:

  • Christ’s Baptism in the Jordan
  • The Lost Sheep
  • The Merciful Father
  • The Cure of a Paralytic

Christ's Baptism in the Jordan

Christ’s Baptism in the Jordan

SOURCE:  Christ’s Baptism in the Jordan (State of the Vatican City); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 10 August 2011.

The Lost Sheep

The Lost Sheep

SOURCE:  The Lost Sheep (State of the Vatican City); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 10 August 2011.

The Merciful Father

The Merciful Father

SOURCE:  The Merciful Father (State of the Vatican City); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 10 August 2011.

The Cure of a Paralytic

The Cure of a Paralytic

SOURCE:  The Cure of a Paralytic (State of the Vatican City); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 10 August 2011.

The posts in this series include:

  • The Holy Door of the Papal Basilica of Saint Peter – Part 1 of 4
  • The Holy Door of the Papal Basilica of Saint Peter – Part 2 of 4
  • The Holy Door of the Papal Basilica of Saint Peter – Part 3 of 4
  • The Holy Door of the Papal Basilica of Saint Peter – Part 4 of 4

Copyright © 2011 by Stephen J. Danko

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One Response to The Holy Door of the Papal Basilica of Saint Peter – Part 2 of 4

  1. Oeil de Cat says:
    February 12, 2013 at 2:33 am

    Dear Steve,

    I am writing a story about the holy door of Saint Peter and I would like to know if I can use your pictures. My blog is not commercial, it is in French, and it relates the history of Italy through the subjects illustrated on its stamps. It is not a philatelic blog, just a history and geographic blog.

    Thanks in advance for your answer.

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