The Extraordinary Jubilee announced by Pope Francis will officially begin today, December 8, on the day of the Immaculate Conception. The Holy Year of Mercy will last until 20 November 2016, a period in which Rome will welcome millions of pilgrims expected from all over the world, but above all 11 months in which the capital will be armored in order to prevent any danger of terrorist and non-terrorist origin .
'Sopening of the Holy Door (9.30 am) between 50 and 100 people are expected at St. Peter's. In order to guarantee security, the Prefect of Rome Franco Gabrielli has decided to commit 3.200 men, who will add to the 24 already active on the streets of the capital. The police also received new bulletproof vests and vehicles: 140 police cars, 100 cars and 80 motorbikes. The agents also work on public transport, in the center and in the suburbs, where in recent weeks the aim has been to increase safety, including by improving the lighting of the neighborhoods. Snipers will be stationed both near the Vatican and near the Spanish Steps. Yesterday evening the reclamation between via della conciliazione, piazza Pio XII and the historic center was carried out.
Today's events will continue with a tribute to the statue of the Madonna in Piazza di Spagna, a visit to the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, and conclude in the evening with the event called "fiat lux", i.e. a scenographic lighting show with projection of images on a facade of St. Peter's Basilica.
Throughout the Jubilee, the coordination of interventions will be entrusted to two different chains of command, "one local which refers to the prefect and quaestor - explained Gabrielli - and the other which refers to the Chief of Police and the Minister of the Interior ». To this will be added the support of International Intelligence which will remain in constant contact with the Police Headquarters. Although there is no specific alarm, the "guard must be very high", concluded Gabrielli.
Despite the reassurances of the forces of order, many are afraid. Fears that translate into heavy losses for hotels and reception facilities: in the ten days following the attacks in Paris, there were 20% more cancellations than ordinary ones.
Going back to the checks, yesterday the ban on flying over the city of Rome and the Basilicas, while the transport of weapons and fuel has been prohibited. The use of fireworks will also not be permitted. From 6 on Monday 7 December to 18 on Wednesday 9 December, the transport of weapons, ammunition, explosives, explosive substances and toxic gases will be prohibited in the Rome area including the Grande Raccordo Anulare.
Also prohibited are television and cinematographic filming which "involves the use of weapons for stage use and means and equipment similar to those used by the police and the armed forces". As for flights, from 7 to 19 today "all flights are prohibited, including those with ultralight aircraft and flights with drones, in a circular area with a radius of about 10 kilometers from the city center". Commercial scheduled and charter flights that have to land or take off from Fiumicino and Ciampino airports, state flights and emergency flights are excluded from the ban.
Termini Station is also armored, crowded with Italpol and Atac security agents. The forces of order will guard the banquet set up for the Jubilee at the entrance to the subway, while vigilance will also remain very high in the shopping area of the station. Agents and soldiers in front of the train tracks, while the entrances will be controlled by police and Italpol machines. Stringent checks also at the Tiburtina station.
