Toledo Cathedral opens Holy Door for first time in 800 years

Pope Leo XIV has granted the Cathedral of Toledo its first Holy Year to mark the 800th anniversary of the laying of its first stone. Archbishop Francisco Cerro Chaves opened the Holy Door by walking through the Puerta de Reyes on Sunday, the solemnity of the Dedication of the Cathedral.

The jubilee period will continue until October 24, 2027. During these twelve months, the cathedral will host pilgrimages, celebrations, and meetings for the diocese. The anniversary commemorates the August 14, 1226, laying of the first stone of the cathedral by Archbishop Rodrigo Jiménez de Rada and King Fernando III.

The opening ceremony included bishops, members of the cathedral chapter, priests, seminarians, and diocesan representatives. Following the opening rites, participants crossed the Holy Door and walked the jubilee route to the high altar for the inaugural Eucharist.