Opening the Holy Door: Hope-Filled Scripture Reflections from St. Peter's Basilica

The Door Has Closed. The Invitation Endures.

The Jubilee Year of Hope may have drawn to a close, and the Holy Doors of Rome may now be shut―but the grace they signify is not bound by a calendar. What the Church celebrated in 2025 was not a moment confined to history, but a living invitation: to conversion, renewal, and hope rooted in Christ.

During that extraordinary year, pilgrims from around the world crossed the threshold of St. Peter’s Basilica, marking a time of profound spiritual renewal for the Church. The canonization of Blessed Carlo Acutis, the first millennial saint, and the historic election of Pope Leo XIV, the first American pope, coincided with a remarkable resurgence of faith―especially among young people rediscovering the beauty and depth of Catholicism. Though the Jubilee has ended, its fruits continue to unfold in the lives of believers everywhere.

Opening the Holy Door invites you to step into that ongoing story.

Whether you were able to make a pilgrimage to Rome or experienced the Jubilee from afar―or whether you’re encountering its meaning for the first time―this book offers a deeper encounter with the heart of the Catholic faith. Scripture teacher and veteran Rome tour guide Joan Watson leads you panel by panel through the sixteen bronze images of the Holy Door, revealing each as a chapter in the great story of salvation. Through prayerful insight and biblical reflection, she shows how your own life is woven into God’s continuing work of redemption.

Along the way, you will:

• Encounter angelic messengers―from the loss of hope in Eden to its fulfillment at the Annunciation.
• Return to pivotal moments in Christ’s life, from his Incarnation and Baptism to his Passion and Death.
• Step into scenes of healing, repentance, and faith during Jesus’s earthly ministry.
• Recognize yourself in the weaknesses and transformations of Christ’s followers, from Peter and Thomas to Saul’s dramatic conversion.
• Meditate on the gifts of the Holy Spirit―the true Giver of Hope―who continues to draw us into a living relationship with God.

Even with the Jubilee year behind us, the meaning of the Holy Door remains before us. Opening the Holy Door helps you reflect on the enduring significance of that sacred threshold and connects your faith to the people, stories, and promises that have shaped Christians for centuries.

This is more than a guide to a moment now past―it is an invitation to ongoing renewal. The door may no longer be physically open, but the call to step more deeply into the life of the Church still stands.

Joan Watson—a Catholic speaker, writer, and podcaster—is the associate editor of Integrated Catholic Life and the pilgrim formation manager for Verso Ministries.

Watson earned a bachelor’s degree in history from Christendom College and a master’s degree in theology and Christian ministry from Franciscan University of Steubenville. She has worked for the Church and various religious apostolates for more than fifteen years.

She is the founder of Living 1 John 1, an online community dedicated to helping Catholics pray and love scripture.

Watson lives in South Bend, Indiana, with her husband, Kevin.

Greg Kandra was ordained as a deacon for the Diocese of Brooklyn in 2007 and most recently served as a senior writer at the Catholic Near East Welfare Association. He is the author of A Deacon Prays and writes The Deacon’s Bench blog. Kandra was a writer and producer for CBS News from 1982 to 2008 for programs including The CBS Evening News with Katie Couric, Sunday Morning, 60 Minutes II, and 48 Hours. He also served for four years as a writer and producer on the live finale of the hit reality show Survivor.

Kandra has received two Peabody Awards, two Emmy Awards, four Writers Guild of America Awards, four Catholic Media Association Awards, and a Christopher Award for his work. In 2017, he was named Clergy of the Year by the Catholic Guild of Our Lady of the Skies Chapel at JFK International Airport. He earned a bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Maryland. Kandra cowrote the acclaimed CBS documentary 9/11. He contributed to three books, including Dan Rather’s Deadlines and Datelines and a homily series. His work has been published in America, US Catholic, Busted Halo, and The Tablet. The author of six books, he has been a regular guest on Catholic radio and is a popular speaker and retreat leader.

Kandra retired in 2022 and now lives with his wife in Florida, where he serves as a deacon for the Diocese of Orlando.