'You don't pay for salvation': Pope Francis delivers warning

Despite the celebration for the Jubilee year, thieves and fraudsters run amok.

As pilgrims arrive in Rome for the Jubilee year, Pope Francis warns to beware of con artists.

LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - "Be careful that there's not someone a bit quick and too cunning that tell you that you must pay," the pontiff told crowds gathered to hear his weekly St. Peter's Square audience.

Pope Francis continued, saying no one should pay to step through a holy door.

"No!" he cried, "You don't pay for salvation. You don't buy salvation. The door is Jesus, and Jesus is free!"

Traditionally, holy doors are only opened in Roman churches, but for the current Jubilee, the pontiff asked that doors be opened globally.

In response to the papal request, holy doors have been opened in cathedrals around the world, which began December 8 and will continue until November 20, 2016.

Pilgrimages through one of the holy doors will provide grace from sin, but there are criminals who have been attempting to charge people to pass through holy doors and are even selling fake papal blessings.

Pope Francis reminded pilgrims that they should be traveling as an act of faith, not guided by money. "(Jesus) himself spoke of those that enter not as they must, and simply says that they are thieves and bandits. Again, be careful: Salvation is free."

Instances of souvenir shops selling fake papal blessings have been reported this year, with other con artists expected to be lurking around.

Religion news reported Italian authorities have been keeping an eye out for fraudsters, with thousands of fake papal blessings seized.

Thirty-five thousand fraudulent parchments were written in several languages and their value totaled over $75,000.

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