Welcome to the Jubilee Year 2025!

Excitement filled the air at St Peter’s Basilica on Ascension Thursday as Pope Francis officially proclaimed the upcoming Jubilee Year 2025. The ceremony was a solemn affair, with the Pope consigning the Bull of Indiction – titled “Spes non confundit. Hope does not disappoint” – to the Archpriests of the Papal Basilicas and representatives of the world’s bishops.

The Theme of Hope

The overarching theme of the Jubilee of 2025 is hope, as reflected in the opening words of the Bull of Indiction. Pope Francis announced that the Jubilee Year would kick off with the opening of the Holy Door of St Peter’s Basilica on Christmas Eve, 2024.

Solemn Openings and Closures

Throughout the year, there will be various events marking the Jubilee, including the opening of the Holy Doors of other Basilicas in Rome and around the world. The Jubilee will conclude on 28 December 2025, with the closing of the Holy Doors in the particular Churches, followed by a final celebration in Rome on the Solemnity of Epiphany, 6 January 2026.

An Opportunity for Renewal

During this Holy Year, Pope Francis hopes that the light of Christian hope will illuminate the world and that the Church will be a faithful witness to this message in every corner of the globe. He also called for support and fostering of hope through a social covenant to help combat violence, conflict, and demographic challenges.

A Message of Hope

Pope Francis expressed his desire for the Jubilee to be a time of renewal and hope for all, urging attendees to live a life in keeping with their faith. He concluded the Bull with a powerful message, exclaiming, “Let us even now be drawn to this hope!”

With these words, Pope Francis set the tone for a Holy Year marked by hope, inviting all to participate fully in the Jubilee of 2025 and to embrace the message of hope and salvation it brings.

By Christopher Wells

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