The Jubilee of 2025, proclaimed by Pope Francis as a Holy Year dedicated to Hope, is a unique opportunity for the faithful around the world to renew their faith and strengthen their commitment to Christ. This theme, deeply rooted in Christian spirituality, invites everyone to contemplate hope as a divine gift that illuminates the path in times of challenges and uncertainties.
All Christians in this new year have been invited by Pope Francis to "be Pilgrims of Hope." We, Apostles, in communion with the Church, also wish to be Pilgrims of Hope and carry in our hearts a deep desire for the expectation of good! Pope Francis tells us in his Bull of Announcement of the Jubilee: "Hope is born of love and is based on the love that flows from the Heart of Jesus!" Today we ask the Holy Spirit, "his constant presence on the journey of the Church and the Institute, and that He radiates His light of hope, because only He keeps it burning like a flame that never goes out, to sustain and give strength to our lives." (Spes non confunditur, 3)
"Hope is the anchor of the soul," said Pope Francis during the proclamation of the Jubilee. "In a world often marked by conflicts, inequalities, and crises, we are called to be witnesses of a living hope, born from the resurrection of Christ."
The Importance of the Jubilee in the Tradition of the Church
Holy Years are special occasions of grace and reconciliation in the Catholic tradition, celebrated since the year 1300. During the Jubilee, the faithful are invited to cross the Holy Door in the papal basilicas in Rome, a gesture symbolizing entry into a new life of grace and conversion. Pope Francis emphasized that the Jubilee of 2025 will be a favorable time to "rediscover the joy of the Gospel" and to "cultivate a spirituality that builds bridges and not walls."
A Universal Call to Hope
The central theme of Hope reflects the Pope's desire that the Church be a sign of light for the world. "Christian hope is not mere optimism, but the certainty that God's love never abandons us," the Pontiff said during a general audience. He also stressed the importance of living the Jubilee of 2025 with an open heart toward others, especially those in greatest need.
Celebrations and Events
Among the events planned for the Jubilee are pilgrimages, ecumenical gatherings, liturgical celebrations, and charitable initiatives in dioceses worldwide. In Rome, the official opening of the Holy Door will be marked by a solemn ceremony at St. Peter's Basilica. The Apostles of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, present in 15 countries, also plan to promote activities that express the spirituality of the Sacred Heart and encourage a life of hope in their local communities.
How to Participate
All the faithful are invited to prepare for the Jubilee of 2025 through prayer, penance, and the practice of works of mercy. Dioceses and religious communities are organizing programs of spiritual and catechetical formation to help the faithful understand the significance of the Holy Year.
"Let us make this Jubilee a time of shared hope, where each of us becomes a visible sign of God's compassion and love in the world," Pope Francis encouraged.The Jubilee of 2025 is a call to the Church and the world to unite in the celebration of hope, an essential gift in a world yearning for peace and unity. May this jubilee journey inspire all to live with hearts turned to God, trusting in His presence and His promise of new life.
