Pope Francis opens the Holy Door at St Peter’s Basilica to begin a special jubilee year

Pope Francis launched a special jubilee year for Roman Catholics during a pre-Christmas event at the Vatican.

The Pope marked the start of the jubilee by opening the normally bricked-up holy door at St Peter’s Basilica.

Jubilees are held only once every 25 years, and more than 30 million pilgrims are expected to head to Rome to pass through the door and ask for forgiveness of their sins.