Drawing on the experience of the public exposition of the Shroud of Turin, Vatican officials are adopting a reservation system for pilgrims who want to cross the threshold of the Holy Door at St. Peter’s Basilica during the Year of Mercy. The free, online registration will not be activated until October, but in late August the Vatican published a brief explanation of the plan on www.im.va, which is the website for the Year of Mercy that begins Dec. 8. “Since a large number of pilgrims is anticipated, it is strongly recommended that pilgrims register their arrival in Rome and the possible times at which they wish to make their pilgrimage,” the notice said. People with special needs, particularly regarding mobility, can enter that information on the reservation form and be assured of assistance when they arrive. Knowing how many pilgrims to expect on a given day and giving them an appointment so they can avoid hours of waiting in line will “ensure that the pilgrimage remains prayerful,” the Vatican said. The Archdiocese of Turin used a similar system to regulate the pilgrim flow April 19-June 24 for the public exposition of the Shroud of Turin.
Read the rest. The reservation system evidently will not be used at the other three major basilicas.
And today we celebrate...