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(NewsNation) — This week, as millions of Christians around the world mark the birth of Jesus Christ, Pope Francis will open a special year in the Catholic Church known as the Jubilee. He will commence the year-long event by opening the Holy Door of St. Peter’s Basilica on Christmas Eve.

The Jubilee is a holy year set aside for prayer, forgiveness, and pilgrimage. The theme is hope – with the motto “spes non confundit” or “hope does not disappoint.” The Catholic Church encourages people to foster hope and to work for peace and justice in a special way during the year.

According to the Vatican, the tradition began in 1300 when Pope Boniface VII announced the first Jubilee. Later, Jubilees came to be celebrated every 25 years.

The Holy Door is a powerful symbol of the Jubilee, the Vatican says. When pilgrims pass through the door, they are reminded of St. John’s gospel: “I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and find pasture.”

On December 26, the pope will say Mass in a Roman prison to open the only Holy Door not in a papal basilica. The gesture is in keeping with key themes in Francis’ pontificate, emphasizing God’s mercy and ministering to the most vulnerable in society.

Catholics who visit Rome – or their local cathedral – during the Jubilee can obtain a special grace known as a plenary indulgence, which removes all temporal punishment for sin if all the requirements are met.

The pope says the Jubilee year is an opportunity to rediscover joy. “Christian life is a journey that requires special moments to nourish and strengthen hope, an indispensable companion that helps us glimpse the goal: the encounter with the Lord Jesus,” writes Francis.