Rome Jubilee 2000 A Ticket to Paradise

The Jubilee has Jewish origins, when every 50 years a year of rest for the land was celebrated, (to make the crops stronger) and the liberation of slaves to restore equality and reduce the distances between the rich and the poor. The beginning of the Jewish Jubilee was marked by the sound of the ram’s horn, in Hebrew Jobel, from which the Christian name Jubilee derives. In the Catholic Church, the Jubilee (or Holy Year) is the period during which the Pope grants plenary indulgence to the faithful who go to Rome and perform particular religious practices. The remission of sins.  In history, The first Jubilee was proclaimed in the year 1300, by Pope Boniface VIII who set the festivity to expire every 100 years. Subsequently Pope Clement VI, set the deadline every 50 years, and mentioned the essential  basilicas to be visited by the pilgrims.  Pope Urban VI decided to move the cadence of the Jubilee, to 33 years, in reference to the period of Jesus’ earthly life.  Finally, Pope Paul II, with the Bull of 1470, established that in the future the Jubilee would take place every 25 years. as a result a Jubilee was announced in the year 1475, by Pope Sixtus IV.

Ever since the tradition has remained unchanged, every 25 years a Holy Year is proclaimed in Rome; pilgrims going though the 4 four holy doors located in, Saint Peter’s basilica, Saint Mary the Major, Saint Paul outside the walls, & Saint John in Lateran. Traditionally, these 4 four holy doors remain walled up for 25 years, only during the the Holy Year they remain open, to welcome pilgrims in remission of their sins. “There is a waiting list to obtain the bricks of the holy doors, they are collectible as relics”.   These photographs refer to the Jubilee 2000, announced by Pope John Paul II. Rome 2000, a symbolically round figure, celebrating  the two thousand years since the birth of Christ.  The first Holy Year between two  millenniums.  The holy year 2000 was the first high media Jubilee, making it a world wide followed event.  Naturally, intended to be a great prayer of praise and thanksgiving for the gift of the Incarnation of the Son of God and the Redemption brought about by him.

These photographs were taken among people for the people, as an investigation into the mystery of faith.  The drive to devotion that is inside all of us in different forms, for different purposes, but all united for a better life. These pictures aim to exalt spirituality, leading the pilgrims to heaven. To be present at the opening of the holy doors, an entrance ticket is required, issued free by the Curia of Rome;  it is  the Ticket to Paradise.

All photographs taken with a small Olympus OM1 using Kodak TriX film.  Hand made pictures are available, printed on a very limited edition 1\30 signed and printed on silver gelatin fibre based paper.   For more details & order please contact: olivieroolivieri19@gmail.com \ Grazie.