Pope Francis has now responded to Santiago Cathedral's call for an extension of the Holy Year to 2022.  An emissary from Rome delivered the good news shortly before the opening ceremonies began in the last days of 2020.  This will be the second such occurrence in 9 centuries of Jacobean Holy Years, the first being in 1937-8 due to the ramifications of the Spanish Civil War.

It is hoped that this decision will allow for a greater recovery period and celebration following the ongoing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.