What is a jubilee year?

Feb 14, 2025

A Jubilee Year is a significant and sacred event in the Catholic Church, a time of grace, mercy, and spiritual renewal. Typically celebrated once every 25 years, the Jubilee can also be declared by the Pope for extraordinary occasions. Its roots trace back to the Old Testament, specifically the Book of Leviticus, where every 50th year was designated as a Jubilee year. During this time, the land would rest, debts would be forgiven, and people would experience reconciliation.

In the Catholic tradition, the Pope proclaims a Jubilee Year as a special invitation for all believers to encounter God's abundant mercy, deepen their faith, and renew their commitment to living out the Gospel. It serves as a time for reconciliation, spiritual growth, and acts of charity, urging the faithful to return to the heart of God’s love.

Jubilee 2025, with the theme Pilgrims of Hope, calls Catholics to embrace and share the message of hope that Jesus offers to the world. It invites the faithful to see themselves as “pilgrims”—journeying through life together, bearing Christ’s light, and sharing His hope with others. This theme emphasizes both personal and communal transformation, reminding us that we are not isolated in our faith journey but united with others in a shared pilgrimage of hope.
The Jubilee also serves as a profound opportunity to reflect on the boundless mercy of God. The faithful are encouraged to engage in the sacrament of reconciliation, embrace acts of charity, and renew their commitment to fostering a more just and compassionate world, embodying God’s love in all aspects of life.

Jubilee 2025 calls on Catholics to live with unwavering hope and to spread that hope to others, reflecting God’s mercy and being a light in a world in need of renewal and reconciliation. It is a time for each believer to deepen their faith, experience the transforming power of God’s grace, and share that grace with the world.