«Open the doors of Justice to me». The words were pronounced by Cardinal Vicar Baldassarre Reina, known to all as Don Baldo, before opening the Holy Door of the Basilica of San Giovanni in Laterano. Then the hands rest to push the imposing bronze door, the work of the sculptor Floriano Bodini. Placed, on the occasion of the Jubilee of 2000, in the right nave, the door has a height of three meters and has a single leaf. It depicts Christ on the cross and, below, almost embraced by her Son, the Madonna with the Child in her arms and her hand pointing to the Holy Trinity with her three fingers. Even further down the coat of arms of John Paul II. On the side the Latin writing “Christus heri hodie semper”, “Christ yesterday, today and always” and, on one side Iubilaeum and on the other A:D: 2000.
Originally that of San Giovanni in Laterano, actually the archbasilica of the Most Holy Savior and of Saints John the Baptist and the Evangelist, was the first and only Jubilee Door that opened on the occasion of the Holy Year. Only later were those of San Pietro, San Paolo Fuori le Mura and Santa Maria Maggiore added.
Precisely on the eve of the rite of opening the Holy Door, on Saturday 28 December, the square in front of the basilica was inaugurated and restored in record time. Also present at the ceremony were the mayor of Rome, Roberto Gualtieri, with his wife, and Monsignor Rino Fisichella. After Cardinal Reina, many Roman citizens representing all categories, from young people to the elderly, to families, workers and the unemployed, adults and children, men, women of every social condition, were allowed to pass through the Gate.
