Jubilee pilgrims pass 15mn mark (2)

(ANSA) - Vatican City, September 7 - The number of pilgrims visiting Rome for the Catholic Holy Year Jubilee of Mercy has passed the 15-million mark exactly nine months since Pope Francis kicked off celebrations by opening the Holy Door in St Peter's, according to the official website of the Holy Year, a site managed by the Pontifical Council for New Evangelisation. The exact number of "Holy Year participants" who have come to Rome for Jubilee events and to enter the Holy Door at St Peter's is now 15,113,457, it said.
    On July 7, exactly seven months after the start of the Holy Year, pilgrims passed the 11-million mark The pilgrims had passed the 10-million mark on June 22.
    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 four 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.