Jubilee 2025: a year of hope and rebirth

2025 will be a special year for the Catholic Church and for millions of faithful around the world: in fact, the Jubilee, or Holy Year, will be celebrated, an ancient tradition that has its roots in the Scriptures and that takes on a profound meaning of reconciliation, forgiveness and renewal. The term "Jubilee" seems to derive from the yobel, the ram's horn used in ancient times to announce the beginning of the Holy Year, a time of reflection and spiritual reunion.

 

Already in the Bible, every 50 years an "extra" year was proclaimed (Lev 25:8-13), to re-establish harmony with God, between people and creation. This provided for the forgiveness of debts, the return of alienated land and the rest of the land.

 

The Jubilee as we know it today originates in 1300, when Pope Boniface VIII proclaimed the first Holy Year, inviting the faithful to undertake pilgrimages to Rome and visit the Basilicas of St. Peter and St. Paul. Since then, the cadence of the Jubilee has changed, going from a secular event to an anniversary every 25 years, set by Pope Paul II in 1470. In addition to the ordinary Holy Years, extraordinary Jubilees have also been proclaimed, such as the one in 2015, dedicated to Mercy by Pope Francis.

 

The proclamation of a Jubilee takes place through a Papal Bull, an official document that establishes the beginning and end of the Holy Year. For the Jubilee 2025, Pope Francis has already announced the Bull "Spes non confundit" ("Hope does not disappoint"), emphasizing the theme of this Jubilee year: 'pilgrims of hope'. An invitation, therefore, to look to the future with confidence, despite the challenges and difficulties that the world has faced in recent years.

 

The Jubilee 2025 will take place in a particular historical context, marked by the difficulties and sufferings generated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Pope Francis has recognized the devastating impact of the epidemic on society and has highlighted how the Jubilee can represent an opportunity for rebirth, solidarity and brotherhood. It is an opportunity to reflect on the profound meaning of hope and the need to rebuild a climate of trust and global cooperation, putting the most vulnerable and forgotten at the center.

 

The Holy Father chose the motto 'pilgrims of hope' to invite the faithful to rediscover the meaning of universal brotherhood and the responsibility to take care of the "common home", the Earth. The Holy Year will therefore also be an opportunity to strengthen ecological commitment and attention to creation, in line with the encyclical Laudato Si'.

 

The Jubilee is characterized by profound symbols, such as the opening of the Holy Door in Rome's main basilicas, including St. Peter's, St. John Lateran, St. Paul Outside the Walls and St. Mary Major.

 

Passing through the Holy Door represents a symbolic passage towards forgiveness, purification and reconciliation with God. Pilgrims who visit these Basilicas and participate in the Jubilee celebrations can obtain a plenary indulgence, one of the spiritual gifts offered during the Holy Year.

 

Alongside the traditional rites, the Jubilee of 2025 will include initiatives aimed at encouraging the participation of people from all over the world, with a special focus on those in need. In fact, support and hospitality networks will be activated to allow even the less fortunate to live the experience of the Jubilee. A free mobile application will facilitate the management of hospitality in dedicated facilities, creating a human and spiritual itinerary accessible to all.

 

The Jubilee 2025 will be preceded by a whole year of spiritual preparation. Pope Francis has in fact urged the faithful to dedicate 2024 to prayer, understood as a path of getting closer to God and as an act of thanksgiving for the gifts of creation. This "symphony of prayer" will include moments of adoration, contemplation and concrete actions of solidarity.

 

In preparation for the Holy Year, the Pope invites every believer to reflect on the call to holiness and solidarity, rediscovering the beauty of creation and the role of each one in caring for the "common home". The Jubilee will therefore be an opportunity for a profound conversion and to strengthen the bonds of fraternity and cooperation between all the local Churches and the world community.

 

The Jubilee of 2025 promises to be an event of great spiritual and social importance, which intends to convey a message of hope and renewal for humanity. In an era marked by uncertainties and global challenges, the Holy Year invites everyone to become a "pilgrim of hope", rediscovering the sense of faith, solidarity and respect for creation. Through this journey, the Jubilee will offer the faithful and all people of good will the opportunity to experience God's mercy and to build a more just and fraternal world.