The Jubilee Year of Hope 2025: Pilgrims of Hope

In 2025, the Catholic Church will celebrate a Jubilee Year of Hope, a time of spiritual renewal, mercy, and grace. Rooted in Scripture and tradition, a Jubilee Year offers Catholics the opportunity to seek God’s mercy, receive indulgences, and deepen their faith. Pope Francis calls this Jubilee a time to rekindle hope in Christ, reminding us that true hope comes from God alone in a world of uncertainty.

What Is a Jubilee Year?

The Jubilee Year has its roots in the Old Testament, where God instructed the Israelites to observe a sacred time of renewal and restoration (Leviticus 25:10).

• Debts were forgiven, offering a fresh start.
• Enslaved individuals were set free, restoring their dignity.
• Families returned to their ancestral homes, reuniting with loved ones.
• The people and the land rested, reflecting God’s providence and care.

The Catholic Church has observed Jubilee Years, or Holy Years, since 1300, when Pope Boniface VIII proclaimed the first one. These sacred years, typically celebrated every 25 years, are times of grace, forgiveness, and spiritual renewal.

When needed, the Church proclaims Extraordinary Jubilees, calling the faithful to deeper conversion, service, and pilgrimage, with the opportunity to receive special indulgences.

Why a Jubilee Year of Hope?

Hope is essential to the Christian life. In a world often filled with division, suffering, and uncertainty, the Church invites us to rediscover hope in Christ. The Jubilee Year of Hope is a call to trust in God’s promises, grow in faith, and become witnesses of hope to others.

How to Prepare for the Jubilee Year of Hope 2025

1. Deepen Your Prayer Life

Hope is nourished through prayer. Spend time daily in Eucharistic Adoration, Scripture reading, and the Rosary. Ask God to increase your trust in Him.

2. Receive the Sacraments Frequently

The Church grants special indulgences during a Jubilee Year, including a plenary indulgence for those who make a pilgrimage to a designated Holy Door and fulfill the usual conditions (confession, Communion, and prayer for the Pope’s intentions).

3. Practice Works of Mercy

Hope is lived out through love. Perform acts of charity, forgive others, and serve those in need. Let this Jubilee be a time of concrete action in bringing Christ’s hope to the world.

4. Go on a Pilgrimage

Jubilee Years encourage the faithful to visit holy places. The four major basilicas in Rome will have Holy Doors open for pilgrims. Local dioceses will also designate pilgrimage sites for those unable to travel to Rome.

5. Study Church Teaching on Hope

Read Sacred Scripture, the Catechism, and papal documents on hope. Pope Benedict XVI’s encyclical Spe Salvi (“Saved in Hope”) (affiliate) offers profound insights into Christian hope and how it sustains us.

Hope in Christ: A Call to Renewal

The Jubilee Year of Hope is a gift from God, a reminder that no matter the trials we face, our hope is secure in Christ. This is a time to embrace His mercy, renew our faith, and share the light of hope with others.

As we approach 2025, let us prepare our hearts and respond to the call of this sacred time. How will you live out the Jubilee Year of Hope?

Resources:

• Visit the USCCB website for resources and ideas on celebrating the Jubilee locally or by making a pilgrimage to Rome.