2025 Jubilee Year on the Theme of “Pilgrims of Hope” began on Christmas Eve, 2024 and will end on January 6, 2026.

The theme for the 2025 Catholic Jubilee Year is “Pilgrims of Hope”. The theme is inspired by Romans 5:5, which says “Hope does not disappoint”.

The Jubilee Year is a time of reflection and penance that focuses on hope and patience. Pope Francis hopes that the Jubilee will be a time for people to have a personal encounter with Jesus, the “door” of salvation. He also hopes that the Jubilee will be a time for people to be renewed in hope, even in the midst of uncertainty about the future.

What happens during a jubilee year?
  • The pope may grant remission of sins, or indulgences, to Catholics who meet certain conditions, such as completing a pilgrimage. 
  • Confessors have special faculties, including the ability to lift censures, such as excommunications. 
  • Catholics may ask forgiveness for their sins and get a fresh start. 
  • How does the tradition originate?

    The tradition dates back to the Hebrew scriptures, where every 50 years was a jubilee year. During these years, slaves and prisoners were freed, debts were forgiven, and God’s mercies were particularly manifest. 

  • What are extraordinary jubilees?

    Popes may also declare “extraordinary” jubilees that fall outside of the 25-year cycle to mark special occasions. For example, the Catholic Church declared an Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy for 2015–2016. 

  • Where do jubilees take place?

    Catholic jubilees often involve a pilgrimage to a sacred site, usually Rome. 

  • What’s planned for the 2025 Jubilee Year?

    The Jubilee 2025 for People with Disabilities will take place from April 26 to May 1, 2025 at the Hotel Centro Giovanni XXIII in Frascati, Italy. 

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