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VATICAN CITY - Pope Francis started the countdown on Thursday to the 2025 Holy Year, or Jubilee, which is one of the Roman Catholic Church's most important events and is expected to draw tens of millions of pilgrims to Rome.A Holy Year usually happens once every 25 years, unless a pope calls an extraordinary one to call attention to a particular issue or celebrate a momentous event.The first Roman Catholic Holy Year is believed to have been instigated by Pope Boniface in 1300.
During a Jubilee, Catholics can obtain special indulgences, or remission of their sins, if they fulfil certain conditions and do good works or make pilgrimages. The Church teaches that people who do not go straight to heaven after death must first spend time in purgatory, a sort of unpleasant waiting room before they can pass through the pearly gates. Indulgences can reduce time in purgatory.
Centuries ago, people could buy indulgences. Martin Luther was scandalised by this practice, which was one of the controversies that sparked the Reformation in the 16th century.The Holy Doors, which symbolise the doorway of salvation for Catholics, are only opened during Jubilee years. There are four in Rome -- in St. Peter's Basilica, St. John Lateran, St. Mary Major and St. Paul Outside the Walls.
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