God "opened the doors of his heart" to the apostles Peter and Paul, so they in turn could open tehir hearts to their brothers. Referring expressly to the Holy Door of the Vatican basilica that will be opened in the upcoming Jubilee of 2025, Pope Francis invited people to look to this image on Saturday's Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul.
He did so in his homily at the solemn Eucharistic celebration in the Vatican basilica, during which - as is tradition - he presented the 42 archbishops appointed during the past year with the pallium, the strip of white woollen cloth that is a symbol of their communion with the Holy See in their jurisdiction.
"To Peter Jesus had entrusted the keys of the Kingdom," Francis recalled, "but he experiences that it is the Lord who opens the doors first, He always goes before us. And there is a curious fact: the doors of the prison were opened by the power of the Lord, but Peter then finds it difficult to enter the house of the Christian community: she who goes to the door, thinks he is a ghost and does not open it for him (cf. Acts 12:12-17). How often communities do not learn this wisdom of opening doors'. Paul, too," he added, "in recounting how the Lord has given him so many opportunities to proclaim the Gospel, uses the image of open doors. "Addressing the community of Corinth he says: 'A great and favourable door has been opened to me' (1 Cor 16:9); and writing to the Colossians he exhorts them thus: 'Pray also for us, that God may open to us the door of the Word to proclaim the mystery of Christ' (Col 4:3)".
"The two apostles Peter and Paul," the pontiff commented, "had this experience of grace. They touched the work of God, who opened the doors of their inner prison and also of the real prisons where they were imprisoned because of the Gospel. And, moreover, he opened before them the doors of evangelisation, so that they could experience the joy of meeting their brothers and sisters in the fledgling communities and be able to bring the hope of the Gospel to all".
An idea to which he also returned later on this feast day, from the window of the Apostolic Palace above St Peter's Square for the recitation of the Angelus. Pointing to the keys with which Peter is portrayed, he explained that 'authority if it is not service is dictatorship. The mission that Jesus entrusts to Peter is not to bar the doors of the house, allowing access only to a few select guests, but to help everyone find the way in, in fidelity to the Gospel of Jesus. Everyone'.
And it is precisely this style that Francis also indicated to the archbishops appointed during the past year. They are called - he said - "to be zealous pastors, who open the doors of the Gospel and who, with their ministry, contribute to building a Church and a society with open doors".
Among the bishops who received the pallium, the presence of Msgr. Linus Neli, archbishop of Imphal, the capital of the Indian state of Manipur, whose Christian community has experienced severe suffering this past year due to ethnic violence, was particularly significant.
For Asia, the list also includes Archbishops Vincent Aind of Ranchi (India), Andrew C. Alarcon of Caceres (Philippines), Hironimus Pakaenoni of Kupang (Indonesia) and Paulus Budi Kleden, Archbishop-elect of Ende (Indonesia). From the Churches of Oceania, Mgr Mosese Vitolio Tui, who was appointed Archbishop of Samoa-Apia just a few days ago, received the pallium.
Finally, on Saturday's feast of Saints Peter and Paul, the Vatican also released the annual report on St Peter's Obolus, which is collected in dioceses around the world on the Pope's Day of Charity, celebrated on the Sunday closest to this feast day.
During 2023, 48.4 million euro in donations were collected, while 103 million euro were contributed from this fund. Among the countries of origin of the donors, the Catholic community of South Korea confirms its top position with 1.3 million euro donated (it is the fourth largest donor together with Germany and behind the USA, Italy and Brazil).
The Churches in Asia are also among the recipients of direct assistance projects: on the continent with the funds of the Obolo di San Pietro a total of 33 projects have been realised for a total economic commitment of 2.8 million euro.
In addition to the collections of these days in the parishes and dioceses each individual faithful can personally contribute to the Pope's charity at any time through the offerings collected online through the website www.obolodisanpietro.va.