"Machine guns, no-fly zone guard pope's opening of Holy Year"

in.reuters.com Tens of thousands of Roman Catholics backed up for blocks at the Vatican on Tuesday for the strictest security checks in living memory as Pope Francis began a Holy Year with a call to set aside "fear and dread". Francis launched the year-long religious event, also known as a Jubilee, by pushing open the usually bricked up bronze Holy Door of St. Peter's Basilica and passing through it, following a Mass attended by about 70,000 people in the square outside, according to a Vatican estimate. Holy Year has long been expected to draw millions to Rome but is opening in the immediate aftermath of attacks in Paris and California. From early morning, police checked pilgrims, reporters, diplomats and even priests entering the area starting several blocks from St. Peter's Square. Some underwent two body and bag searches as they made their way forward before passing through metal detectors.