ROME -- Pope Francis inaugurated his Holy Year at Rome’s main prison on Thursday, bringing a message of hope to inmates and involving them in the Catholic Church’s once every quarter-century celebration that is expected to bring about 32 million pilgrims to Rome.

Pope Francis made a visit on Thursday to one of the largest prison complexes in Italy, opening a special "Holy Door" for the 2025 Catholic Holy Year, in what the Vatican said was the first such action by a Catholic pontiff.

Pope Francis, marking the Holy Year of the Catholic Church on Thursday, opened the symbolic Holy Door at a prison in Rome, offering a message of hope and forgiveness to inmates. The 88-year-old Catholic pontiff told the prisoners during the ceremony not to lose hope.