Pilgrims of hope: Holy Year opened in the Aachen Cathedral!

On December 29, 2024, the festival service was celebrated in the Aachen Cathedral at the start of the Holy Year called out by Pope Francis. Bishop Dr. In his speech, Helmut emphasized that the Holy Year should make people "pilgrimage of hope". He referred to a social disillusionment and the turning of community and presented the cross as an anchor of hope in times of crisis.

bishop This outline three areas of life in which people are currently confronted with uncertainty: the aftermath of the Cold War and ongoing crises, the uncertainty of alliances and alliances as well as the challenges that arise from digitization and artificial intelligence. He paid particular attention to the social upheavals in Germany, which are triggered by the Boomer generation pension.

service and pilgrimage churches

During the celebration, Bishop also pointed out the continued discussion about abortion, criticized the attempt to introduce a “right to abortion”, and described the over 100,000 annual abortions in Germany as unchanged. He also spoke about the generation cohesion and the associated loads.

Pope Francis stimulates to decorate a cross in each sub -church, which is reflected in his chest cross: the selected verse "O Crux, Ave, Spes Unica!" illustrates the meaning of the cross as a symbol of hope and the resurrection of Jesus. For the bishop, belief in Jesus is protection against despair and an incentive to the truth.

The Holy Year offers opportunities for repentance, reconciliation and healing. This year Bishop announced this three pilgrim churches in the diocese of Aachen: the Aachen Cathedral, the Basilica of St. Potentine in the Steinfeld Monastery and the basilica of St. Vitus in Mönchengladbach. These pilgrim churches offer sacraments and anniversary outdoor successes throughout the year. In addition, two diocesan pilgrimages to Steinfeld are planned in spring and to Mönchengladbach in autumn.

The celebrations for the Holy Year 2025, which is under the lead word "Pilgrims of Hope", are part of an important event in the Catholic Church that takes place every 25 years. The aim is to create a closer connection to faith and community as well as to convey a message of grace, forgiveness and renewal. The opening of the Holy Year began on Sunday, December 29th in the St. Alexius chapel in the Alexian Center for Mental Health. The celebration started at 11 a.m.

like the Aachener Zeitung reported, the holy year is a normal holy year that takes place every 25 years and with a special ceremony, the opening of the holy Pforte, open in St. Peter's Basilica on December 24, 2024. In the diocese of Aachen, diverse services, spiritual offers and pilgrimage trips are planned to help the faithful to deepen their religious practice.