I’ll miss the silver hammer, more like an ice-axe in profile, with which popes used to hack at the masonry sealing the Holy Door in order to proclaim the start of the Jubilee, or Holy Year.
Pope Francis has surprised everyone by declaring one, to start on December 8. But as no demolishing hammer was used in 2000 for the last Holy Year, I shan’t get my hopes up for its reappearance. I might be wrong, for Pope Francis is keen on popular devotions. This ceremony, though popular, is neither widespread nor frequent.
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