Sarah Mitchell
In the Catholic Church, a Jubilee is a year of forgiveness of sins, reconciliation, and conversion. It is also known as a Holy Year. The Jubilee has its roots in the Book of Leviticus, which instructs that it be celebrated every 50 years. The year is marked by the opening of the Holy Door of St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican. The last Jubilee Year was in 2015-2016, and the next will begin on December 24, 2024, and continue through January 6, 2026.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year | 2025 |
| Anniversary | 2,025th anniversary of the Incarnation of our Lord |
| Proclaimed by | Pope Francis |
| Theme | Pilgrims of Hope |
| Duration | December 24, 2024, to January 6, 2026 |
| Focus | Hope, peacemaking, welcoming migrants, openness to having children, debt cancellation, repentance, and mercy |
| Occurrence | Every 25 or 50 years |
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What You'll Learn
- Jubilee years are celebrated every 25 or 50 years
- The year can be ordinary or extraordinary
- Pope Francis designated the 2025 Jubilee as the year of the 'Pilgrims of Hope'
- The year is marked by the opening of the Holy Door of St Peter's Basilica in the Vatican
- Pope Boniface VIII endorsed the tradition in 1300
Jubilee years are celebrated every 25 or 50 years
In Western Christianity, the tradition of Jubilee, or Holy Years, in the Catholic Church dates back to 1300 when Pope Boniface VIII convoked the first Christian jubilee. Since then, ordinary jubilees have generally been celebrated every 25 or 50 years, with extraordinary jubilees taking place as needed.
The jubilee is a year of forgiveness of sins and the punishment due to sin. It is a year of reconciliation between adversaries, of conversion and receiving the Sacrament of Reconciliation. The concept of the jubilee year originates from the book of Leviticus in the Bible, which says:
> "Thou shalt sanctify the fiftieth year, and shalt proclaim remission to all the inhabitants of thy land: for it is the year of jubilee."
The number 50 has long been associated with the idea of remission, with the jubilee being the 50th year. The tradition of jubilees in the Catholic Church was adapted from Ancient Rome, where the jubilee was a celebration coinciding with the centenaries since the founding of Rome.
Jubilee years in the Catholic Church generally involve a pilgrimage to a sacred site, usually the city of Rome. The Pope opens the Holy Doors of the four main churches in Rome: St. Peter's Basilica, St. John Lateran, St. Mary Major, and St. Paul Outside the Walls. The passing through these holy doors symbolises the pilgrim’s journey of conversion.
The most recent jubilee years were the Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy (2015–2016) and the Jubilee Year of Hope, which commenced on 24 December 2024. The next Jubilee year will be in 2025, proclaimed by Pope Francis in the Papal Bull Spes Non Confundit.
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The year can be ordinary or extraordinary
In the Catholic Church, a Jubilee is a Holy Year of forgiveness and reconciliation. It is a time for receiving the Sacrament of Reconciliation, for the conversion of adversaries, and for solidarity, hope, justice, and peace. The Jubilee is rooted in the Hebrew Bible, or the Old Testament, where it is referred to as the Sabbath of Sabbaths, occurring once every 50 years. The concept is first mentioned in the Book of Leviticus, which instructs that during the Jubilee, liberty should be proclaimed throughout the land, and plots of land should be returned to their original tribal ownership.
The Jubilee tradition in the Catholic Church dates back to 1300 when Pope Boniface VIII convoked a holy year. Since then, ordinary jubilees have typically been celebrated every 25 or 50 years, with extraordinary jubilees proclaimed as needed. For instance, Pope Clement VIII proclaimed a Holy Year in 1600, and Pope Urban VIII declared a universal or extraordinary jubilee in 1628 to pray for peace.
The current ordinary Jubilee Year of Hope commenced on December 24, 2024, and will continue through January 6, 2026. This Jubilee has been proclaimed by Pope Francis, who has designated it as a time to renew ourselves as "Pilgrims of Hope". The year 2025 marks the 2,025th anniversary of the Incarnation of our Lord, an event of great spiritual, ecclesial, and social significance in the life of the Church. Pope Francis has urged several specific acts of hope for this Jubilee year, including peacemaking, welcoming migrants, and openness to having children. He has also called for the affluent to forgive debts and for both repentance and mercy.
A Jubilee year is typically marked by a pilgrimage to a sacred site, usually the city of Rome. The opening of the Holy Door of St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican marks the beginning of the Jubilee Year, and it is only during these years that these doors are opened. The Jubilee Year is a significant event in the Catholic Church, providing an opportunity for spiritual renewal and a reorientation of life towards the eternal.
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Pope Francis designated the 2025 Jubilee as the year of the 'Pilgrims of Hope'
Pope Francis has designated the year 2025 as a Jubilee Holy Year, marking the 2,025th anniversary of the Incarnation of our Lord. This Catholic tradition, which has its origins in the Book of Leviticus, is a special year of reconciliation, pilgrimage, and forgiveness of sins. It is celebrated every 25 years, with extraordinary jubilees proclaimed in response to specific events.
Pope Francis officially proclaimed the 2025 Jubilee with the public reading and delivery of "Spes Non Confundit" ("Hope Does Not Disappoint"), a papal bull, on May 9, 2024. The bull sets the foundation for the Jubilee, with the theme "Pilgrims of Hope." During the Jubilee Year, Pope Francis invites Catholics to embark on a pilgrimage of hope, guided by St. Paul the Apostle, to renew their faith in Christ.
The Jubilee Year will begin with the opening of the Holy Door of St. Peter's Basilica on Christmas Eve, December 24, 2024, and will continue until the closing of the Holy Door on January 6, 2026, the solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord. This symbolic act of opening the Holy Door marks the start of the Jubilee celebration, a tradition that dates back to ancient times.
The Vatican has published resources and information for Catholics to prepare for the Jubilee, including travel tips for those planning to make a pilgrimage to Rome. The Jubilee is expected to attract thousands of pilgrims from around the world, following in the tradition of past jubilees. The U.S. Embassy to the Holy See has also developed a webpage with useful information for American pilgrims travelling to Italy during the Holy Year.
The 2025 Jubilee, with its theme of "Pilgrims of Hope," emphasizes the importance of spiritual renewal and the spread of hope to those seeking it. Pope Francis encourages Catholics to fan the flame of hope and look to the future with optimism and faith. This Jubilee Year is a time for reflection, pilgrimage, and a renewed focus on the spiritual life, guided by the teachings of the Catholic Church.
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The year is marked by the opening of the Holy Door of St Peter's Basilica in the Vatican
The Catholic Church has celebrated jubilees, or Holy Years, since at least 1300, when Pope Boniface VIII convoked the first holy year. Ordinary jubilees are celebrated every 25 or 50 years, with extraordinary jubilees occurring in response to specific events.
The opening of the Holy Door is a symbolic moment that marks the beginning of a jubilee year. The Pope opens the door, which is located to the right of the centre doors of St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican, and this simple ritual has been a fixture of jubilee years since at least 1450. The door normally remains sealed with bricks, symbolising the barrier of sin between people and God. The 16 bronze panels on the door depict key moments in salvation history, such as the fall of Adam and Eve, the annunciation of Jesus' birth, and the crucifixion.
The most recent Holy Year began on 24 December 2024, when Pope Francis inaugurated the "Jubilee of Hope" by opening the Holy Door of St. Peter's Basilica. The Pope knocked on the door, which was decorated with a garland of green pine branches, red roses, and gold pinecones, and then paused in prayer on the threshold. The rite began with the reading of biblical passages in different languages, prophesying the birth of a saviour "who brings his kingdom of peace into our world". After the readings, the Gospel of St. Matthew's account of the birth of Jesus was proclaimed. Following the Pope, ten children from ten different countries, holding hands with their parents, crossed the threshold, followed by 54 people from 27 nations.
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Pope Boniface VIII endorsed the tradition in 1300
In Western Christianity, the tradition of the Catholic Jubilee, or Holy Year, dates to 1300 when Pope Boniface VIII convoked a holy year. This was the first Holy Year, also known as the Jubilee of 1300. Following this, ordinary jubilees have generally been celebrated every 25 or 50 years, with extraordinary jubilees taking place depending on need.
Pope Boniface VIII was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 24 December 1294 until his death in 1303. He succeeded Pope Celestine V, who abdicated from the papal throne. Boniface VIII's early years as pope were spent abroad in diplomatic roles, and he often involved himself in foreign affairs. He had ambitious political goals and was a seasoned politician, acting as a stabilising force in a tumultuous time.
In the final year of the 13th century, huge crowds of Romans flocked to St. Peter's Basilica, having heard rumours of extraordinary indulgences. These were said to be obtained by those who prayed at the tomb of the first Pope or venerated Veronica's Veil. This relic, a recent arrival at the basilica, was allegedly the veil with which Jesus' face was wiped on his walk to Calvary, leaving a perfect image. Pilgrimages continued throughout January 1300, with growing numbers of faithful visiting the basilica.
Reading the signs of the times, Pope Boniface consulted the cardinals of the Curia. On 22 February 1300, he promulgated the Decree Antiquorum habet digna fide relatio, with which he formally instituted the Jubilee. Boniface also had the churches of Rome restored for the Great Jubilee of 1300, particularly St. Peter's Basilica, the Lateran Basilica, and the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore.
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Frequently asked questions
A Jubilee year, also known as a Holy Year, is a year of forgiveness of sins and reconciliation between adversaries. It is held every 50 years.
The Jubilee year is significant because it is a time to reorient life towards the eternal and to seek justice and peace. It is also a time for pilgrimage and indulgences.
During a Jubilee year, the Holy Door of St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican is opened, and pilgrims are welcomed. It is a time for prayer, meditation, and seeking forgiveness.
The current Jubilee year, which began on December 24, 2024, and will end on January 6, 2026, has been given the theme of "Pilgrims of Hope" by Pope Francis.
