On Christmas Eve of this year, His Holiness Pope Francis will open a yearlong celebration known as a Jubilee. The Jubilee will be centered on the theme “Pilgrims of Hope.” In setting the theme for the Jubilee, Pope Francis said, “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 visions.” To better understand why this celebration is so important to the life of the Church, it is best for us to have a clearer understanding of the role of a Jubilee within the Catholic Church.
In the Gospel of Saint Luke, the evangelist tells of Jesus returning to Nazareth, where He grew up, and entering the temple. Once inside, He is handed a scroll, and, unrolling it, He reads from the prophet Isaiah, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because He has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”
This “year of the Lord’s favor” has its roots in the Jewish tradition. The year of favor, or a “Jubilee year,” was a time of great joy, a year of universal pardon. It would often take place every 50 years. A similar concept emerged within the Christian tradition. The concept of a “fiftieth year” became synonymous with a “Jubilee year.” In the Roman Catholic tradition, a Jubilee, or a “Holy Year,” is not only a year of forgiveness for indebtedness of sins but is also a year of reconciliation and conversion. It leads to a time of solidarity, justice and hope, as well as a deeper desire to joyfully serve God and find peace with our brothers and sisters in Christ.
The first Christian Jubilee was called for in 1300 A.D., during the reign of Pope Boniface VIII. In this first observance, he called for the pardon of sins and recommended visits to the basilicas of St. Peter and St. Paul in Rome. As a result, the concept of pilgrimages has also been associated with the Jubilee Years. Along the way, the idea of 50 years moved to every 25 years. These Jubilee Years are known as “Ordinary Jubilees,” as there are also “Extraordinary Jubilees,” which occur outside of the normal 25-year time. The most recent Extraordinary Jubilee was in 2016, when Pope Francis called for a “Year of Mercy.” Undoubtedly, many will recall what was known as “The Great Jubilee” of 2000. This Jubilee ushered in the Third Millenium of Christianity. In preparation for that Jubilee, Pope John Paul II called for a three-year period of preparation, which invited deeper reflection on Jesus, the Holy Spirit and God the Father—each for a one-year period leading to 2000.
While the Holy Father will begin this Jubilee of Hope on Christmas Eve at St. Peter Basilica in Rome, every diocese across the globe, including the Diocese of Youngstown, will begin the celebration later that week on the Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph. Throughout the year, a variety of celebrations will happen in Rome, highlighting various groups as “Pilgrims of Hope,” including musicians, members of the military, artisans, the poor, clergy and religious. Here in the Diocese of Youngstown, we will also celebrate a variety of pilgrims as we journey to each county of the diocese between the opening of the Jubilee and its closing on Epiphany of 2026. As mentioned, another custom of a Jubilee is that of an actual pilgrimage. The diocese will have a representative group journey to Rome in the fall of 2025.
More information will be announced in late December regarding how the Jubilee will be celebrated throughout the year across the diocese. Visit www.doy.org for updates. As Pope Francis has called for the days leading up to the Jubilee to be ones of prayer, let us all pray that the coming year will be one of great joy in our common journey together as Pilgrims of Hope.
