Bengaluru: The Holy Father Pope Francis announced the Extraordinary Jubilee Year of Mercy during the Lenten penitential service at St. Peter's Basilica, Rome on Friday 13th March 2015.

This Jubilee Year is celebrated from 8th December 2015 to 20th November 2016, the Feast of Christ the king.

The Year of Mercy calls all of us to rely on God’s Mercy and share His Mercy with others.

On Sunday, 13th December, Pope Francis opened the Holy Door of the Cathedral of Rome, the Basilica of St. John Lateran. After that, the Holy Doors of the other Papal Basilicas were opened. Moreover, the Holy Father decreed that on the same Sunday, “in every local church, at the cathedral — the mother church of the faithful, a Door of Mercy will be opened for the duration
of the Holy Year.

His Grace the Most Rev. Dr. Bernard Moras, Metropolitan Archbishop of Bangalore, opened the Holy door of St.Francis Xavier’s, the cathedral of Archdiocese of Bangalore and Archbishop opened another Jubilee Door at St. Mary’s Minor Basilica, Shivajinagar on Friday, 1st january, 2016 at 5.00 p.m. A large number of Priests, Religious and lay faithful participated in the Solemn Ceremony.