The Holy Father has decided that 2025 will be a Year of Jubilee, something which happens every 25 years. 

The theme is “Pilgrims of Hope”, and it will be a year of hope for a world suffering the impacts of war, the ongoing effects of Covid-19 pandemic, and a climate crisis. 

“Jubilee” is the name given to a particular year. A time to re-establish a proper relationship with God, with one another, and with all of creation. In the Catholic Church, the concept of Jubilee, or “Holy Year”, was used to declare special years for forgiveness and reconciliation. 

The first Jubilee was declared by Pope Boniface VIII on February 22 1300 (Feast of the Chair of St Peter), to mark the beginning of that century. He later recommended it occurring every 100 years. Various other Popes changed the length of the interval between the observances. But Pope Saint Paul II set the present 25-year interval in the 1500s. So Holy Years are “ordinary” when they occur at regular intervals (25 years in these modern times) and “extraordinary” when they are proclaimed for a very special reason. 

More recently a Great Jubilee was declared in 2000 by Pope Saint John Paul II to celebrate the new millennium. That Jubilee year brought the total number of universal Jubilee years to 28 that so far had been celebrated by the Church. Intended as a time of conversion and emphasis on God’s mercy and forgiveness of sins, Jubilees begin with the opening of the Holy Door in St Peter’s Basilica. Holy Doors at each of the four papal basilicas in Rome are destination points for pilgrims, who pass through seeking special graces.

In his letter announcing the Holy Year back in February 2022, Pope Francis says:

We must fan the flame of hope that has been given us and help everyone to gain new strength and certainty by looking to the future with an open spirit, a trusting heart and far-sighted vision. The forthcoming Jubilee can contribute greatly to restoring a climate of hope and trust as a prelude to the renewal and rebirth that we so urgently desire; that is why I have chosen as the motto of the Jubilee, Pilgrims of Hope.

Hopefully, during the course of the year there will be opportunities to deepen our faith as individuals and communities. Pilgrimage is also part of the landscape of a Holy Year and added to the annual round of pilgrimages, there will be a special one to Rome – soon to be advertised. If you want more information about the Holy Year please look on the Vatican website: iubilaeum2025.va/en.html and the Bishops of England and Wales website: cbcew.org.uk/jubilee-2025/

In blessed hope,

+Terry