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“Pilgrims of Hope”
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The 2025 Jubilee, themed “Pilgrims of Hope” by Pope Francis, presents a unique opportunity for reflection and celebration within the Catholic Church. Traditionally celebrated every 25 years, this Holy Year emphasizes forgiveness, freedom, and renewal, allowing the faithful to deepen their spiritual lives.
The term “Jubilee” originates from the yobel, a ram's horn used in ancient Israel to announce the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur). While this Jewish holiday occurs annually, it gains special significance during a Jubilee year. The Bible instructs that Jubilee years should happen every 50 years, serving as a time for restoring relationships with God and one another, which includes forgiving debts, returning land, and allowing the fields to rest (Leviticus 25:8-13).
Jesus encapsulates this mission in the Gospel of Luke (4:18-19), where he states that the Spirit of the Lord is upon him to bring good news to the poor and proclaim liberty to captives. His life and teachings reflect a commitment to liberation and conversion.
The first Jubilee was established by Pope Boniface VIII in 1300 and was known as a “Holy Year.” Initially, Holy Years were celebrated every 100 years, but this was later adjusted to every 50 years by Pope Clement VI and then to every 25 years by Pope Paul II. In addition to regular Holy Years, there have been “extraordinary” Jubilees, such as the Year of Mercy proclaimed by Pope Francis in 2015, which aimed to emphasize the Church’s mission of mercy.
The observance of Jubilee Years has evolved over time. Originally, it included a pilgrimage to the Roman Basilicas of St. Peter and St. Paul. Over the centuries, new traditions have emerged, such as the opening of the Holy Door, which symbolizes entering into a time of grace. Participants in the Holy Year are granted plenary indulgences, making it a significant spiritual occasion for renewal and reconciliation.
As the 2025 Jubilee approaches, the theme of “Pilgrims of Hope” invites all believers to embark on a journey of faith, encouraging them to seek forgiveness, offer compassion, and foster peace in their communities.
The upcoming Ordinary Holy Year is themed “Pilgrims of Hope.” The Pope has described this Jubilee as a “gift of grace,” to be experienced through pilgrimages, indulgences, and living testimonies of faith.
With the 2025 Jubilee approaching, there are many questions regarding the potential opening of the Holy Door in Cathedral Churches, International and National Shrines, and other significant places of worship.
In the bull proclaiming the Jubilee, Spes non confundit, Pope Francis states that, alongside the four major Roman basilicas—St. Peter's, St. Paul's, St. Mary Major, and St. John Lateran—which will open the Jubilee Holy Doors, other churches around the world, particularly cathedrals, minor basilicas, shrines, and other temples designated by diocesan bishops, will also serve as pilgrimage sites. The faithful can obtain indulgences through these pilgrimages from December 29, 2024, to December 28, 2025.
What does the Bull proclaiming the Jubilee say?