Editorial photo #228791 Religion and Belief

Ritual ceremony of the Celestine Pardon

A woman with typical clothes during the procession of Bubble of Forgiveness, in L'Aquila, Italy, on August 28, 2014. The ritual ceremony of the Celestine Pardon, a world-famous historical-cum-religious event, is held in L'Aquila every year at the end of August. The ceremony comes to a climax on 28 August with the opening of the Holy Door in the Basilica of Collemaggio. On August 29, 1294 Pietro da Morrone was crowned Pope there, as Celestine V, and as part of his coronation instituted a plenary pardon of sins for all who would visit the church, confessed and repentant, on the 28th and 29th of August of any year. (Photo by Manuel Romano/NurPhoto)