This initiative is set to coincide with the upcoming Holy Year celebrations. On December 2, Pope Francis is expected to inaugurate the webcam, which will be installed beneath the main altar of St. Peter's Basilica.
Additionally, another webcam is expected to be positioned at the basilica's Holy Door for the 2025 Jubilee, a significant event during which pilgrims traveling to Rome can receive indulgences for the forgiveness of sins by passing through the Holy Door.
The Vatican described this initiative as providing "symbolic access" for those unable to make the journey to Rome.
The Holy Year, celebrated once every 25 years, is expected to draw an estimated 32 million pilgrims to the Eternal City. Pope Francis will officially open the Holy Door on Christmas Eve to mark the beginning of the Jubilee.
In a further effort to enhance communication during the Holy Year, the Vatican will also launch a new magazine. A notable feature will include a section where Pope Francis responds to questions from readers. Among the first submissions is a heartfelt query from a grandmother concerned about her grandchildren not being baptized.
St. Peter, one of Jesus Christ's apostles and the first pope, is believed to have been martyred in Rome around 64â"68 AD.
According to Christian tradition, he was crucified upside down and buried near his execution site, now part of the Vatican Necropolis. His tomb is regarded as the spiritual heart of the Catholic Church, with St. Peter's Basilica symbolizing the apostolic foundation of the papacy.
IGIHE