The Jubilee ceremony begins with Pope Francis opening the Holy Door at St Peter's Basilica. The ceremony includes prayers in Latin and Italian, symbolising forgiveness, as the Pope crosses the threshold to start the Holy Year.

The pope opened the Jubilee Holy Doors praying that the Holy Spirit would soften hearts so that "enemies may speak to each other again."

Elsewhere in the world, Hanukkah started on Christmas Day for the first time since 2005 and celebrations were muted in Germany.