What Is the 2025 Catholic Jubilee Year? A Guide to "Pilgrims of Hope"

In 2025, the Catholic Church celebrates a Jubilee Year, themed "Pilgrims of Hope," a time of grace, forgiveness, and reconciliation, starting in Advent 2024 and continuing until the Feast of the Epiphany in 2026.

Here's a more detailed explanation:

What is a Jubilee Year?
In the Catholic Church, Jubilee Years (also known as Holy Years) are special times of grace, forgiveness, and reconciliation that occur every 25 years, marking a time for spiritual renewal and reflection.

The Theme:
The 2025 Jubilee Year is themed "Pilgrims of Hope," emphasizing the importance of hope in a world facing challenges like war, the ongoing effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, and climate change.

When is it happening:
The Jubilee Year begins in Advent 2024, with the opening of the Holy Door in Rome, and continues until the Feast of the Epiphany in 2026.

Key Aspects:
Pilgrimage and Prayer: The Jubilee Year is a time for pilgrimage and prayer, encouraging people to deepen their relationship with God and with one another.

Forgiveness and Reconciliation: It is a time for seeking forgiveness, both from God and from others, and for fostering reconciliation.

Spiritual Renewal: The Jubilee Year is an opportunity for spiritual renewal and growth, encouraging people to reflect on their faith and their relationship with God.

The Holy Doors:
During the Jubilee Year, the Holy Doors of the four major basilicas in Rome (St. Peter's, St. John Lateran, St. Paul Outside the Walls, and St. Mary Major) are opened, offering pilgrims the opportunity to receive a plenary indulgence.

Jubilee Pledge:
The Jubilee Pledge 2025 encourages Catholics to commit to caring for those most in need and to working for justice, love, and peace, both locally and globally.

Diocesan Initiatives:
Dioceses around the world will be organizing events and resources to support the Jubilee Year, including pilgrimages, prayer initiatives, and opportunities for reflection and celebration.

Previous Jubilee:
The last Jubilee was the Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy of 2015–2016.
2000 Jubilee:
In 2000, the world and the Catholic Church were preparing to enter the new millennium.

See our Jubilee 2025 department for all your Jubilee resources.