As the Pope left the Rebibbia prison, he stopped to greet the 300 inmates and staff who had waited outside of the crowded chapel on the cold December morning.

Pope Francis made a visit on Thursday to one of the largest prison complexes in Italy, opening a special "Holy Door" for the 2025 Catholic Holy Year, in what the Vatican said was the first such action by a Catholic pontiff.

Pope Francis is bringing his Holy Year to Rome’s main prison. Francis traveled to Rebibbia prison on a frigid morning.

Pope Francis opened a Holy Door at Rome's Rebibbia prison for the Catholic Church's Jubilee 2025 on Thursday, Saint Stephen's Day. It was a historic move as it is the first time a holy door has been opened at a jail.

"I wanted all of us, inside or out, to have an opportunity to throw open the doors of our hearts and understand that hope does not disappoint."

Pope Francis urged inmates to never give up hope as he inaugurated the Vatican’s Jubilee Year at the high-security Rebibbia prison on the outskirts of Rome on Thursday.

In this context, Pope Francis has made an extraordinary gesture by opening the second Holy Door inside the Roman prison of Rebibbia. This act is not only a symbol of forgiveness and mercy, but also represents a strong message of hope for all prisoners,

Pope Francis opens Holy Door in Rome’s Rebibbia prison Pope Francis goes to Rome's Rebibbia prison to open a Holy Door, one of only five that will be open during the 2025 Catholic Holy Year. Watch more on Independent TV: Like us on Facebook: Follow us on Twitter: Follow us

Marking the Holy Year of the Catholic Church, Pope Francis opened a Holy Door at a prison in Rome on Thursday, offering a message of hope and forgiveness to inmates. "Do not lose hope, that is the message I want to give you,

Italian prison community, with Pope Francis opening the Holy Door at Rebibbia prison. This gesture, full of symbolism, was strongly desired by the Pontiff to involve prisoners in the Jubilee of Hope,