Jubilee pilgrims go over 10-mn mark

(ANSA) - Vatican City, June 22 - Pilgrims to Rome for the Jubilee of Mercy have passed the 10-million mark, according to the official website of the Holy Year proclaimed by Pope Francis, a site managed by the Pontifical Council for New Evangelisation. Some 10,025,344 participants have come to Rome for Jubilee events and to enter the Holy Door at St Peter's in the last six and a half months, it said. On April 22 Jubilee pilgrims passed the five-million mark, so there has been a big increase in the rate of arrivals over the last two months.
    Pilgrim numbers were initially below expectations, partly because of terror attacks in Paris and Brussels. The Jubilee started on December 8 and runs till November 20.