Jesus is free, salvation cannot be bought, pope says

“But you don’t pay for salvation, you don’t buy it”, he said.

On the eve of the opening of the Vatican’s Holy Door, Archbishop Renato Fisichella, the Jubilee’s chief organizer, invited all pilgrims to watch out for people trying to defraud them with everything from fake pilgrimage certificates to paid tickets for free papal events. Ahead of the jubilee launching, the Holy See created a special logo and urged pilgrims to be guided only by official information.

“It’s not just about security for fear of ISIS”.

During his address, Pope Francis expressed his hope that the Holy Year celebrations in dioceses across the globe would serve as “a visible sign of universal communion” and of God’s love and mercy to the world.

The Pope last week opened the Extraordinary Jubilee Year of Mercy, during which Catholics can receive a plenary indulgence by making a pilgrimage to one of a number of Holy Doors that will be opened across the world, including one at each cathedral in Scotland. But the pope, who wants a more inclusive and less judgmental Church, called an extraordinary one on the theme of mercy, compassion and forgiveness. “When we pass through that door, it is good to remember that we should also open wide the doors of our heart”.

The parchments were knock-offs of the calligraphy-filled, personalized Apostolic Blessing parchments that are sold inside the Vatican by Francis’ chief alms-giver to fund the pope’s charitable efforts.

Before the start of the audience, pilgrims sang “Happy Birthday” to the pope who will celebrate his 79th birthday December 17.

Mexican journalist Valentina Alazraki presented Francis with a cake in the shape of a sombrero, a gift from the people of Mexico, which he is due to visit in February 2016.