Pilgrims of Hope

On Christmas Eve 2024, Pope Francis inaugurated the current Jubilee, 2025 by walking through the Holy Door of St. Peter’s Basilica. This ceremony, which was instituted by Pope Alexander VI for the Jubilee in 1500, is symbolic of Jesus’ description of himself in the Gospel of John as the door to salvation. The commemoration of a jubilee is hinged on the Jewish practice of Sabbath rest every seven days, connected to the creation story in which God created the world in six days and rested on the seventh day. Borrowing a leaf from The biblical books of Leviticus and Deuteronomy, on what a “sabbatical year,” is, we are called upon during the year of jubilee as in a sabbatical year to forgive debts and free enslaved people. We are also meant to let the land get rest, as the farmers are told to let their fields lie fallow.
Both the Old and New Testaments, refer to the jubilee as Jesus specifies his mission in the Book of Isaiah; “He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour.” In the Catholic Church, a jubilee is a holy year celebrated every 25 years. It is time to focus on reconciliation, forgiveness and renewal. The Catholic Church’s last ordinary Jubilee celebration, which took place in 2000, was deemed a “Great Jubilee” by then-Pope John Paul II, commemorating two millennia since the birth of Christ. Remarkably during Mass that year, the Holy Pontiff sought forgiveness of the church for atrocities committed across its history, including injustice toward Jews, Indigenous peoples and women, etc.
Themed ‘Pilgrims of Hope’, the Jubilee year 2025 is inspired by Romans 5:5. ‘…; let us exult, too, in our hardships, understanding that hardship develops perseverance and perseverance develops a tested character, something that gives us hope, and a hope, which will not let us down because the love of God has been poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit which has been given to us.’ (NJB)
As Pilgrims of Hope on this journey, Pope Francis encourages everyone to embrace hope despite challenges and to practice patience as we await the good things to come. It is in this year that we are called upon to uphold the mercy of God and let his Grace prevail upon
each one of us.
During the Jubilee 2025, the Holy Pontiff urges every Christian to seek peace, support the marginalized and address ecological and economic injustices, calling for responsible actions to better the world. Therefore, as Pilgrims of Hope, we are challenged to ACT, with a focus on reconciliation, encouraging the sacrament of confession, and restoring relationships with our neighbours and with God. We thank God for the grace to partake in this year of Jubilee 2025. As Pilgrims of Hope in 2025, allow me to note that we have the grace to journey together in unity, love and harmony.
May we be beacons of Hope as we look at the past with Gratitude, live the present with Enthusiasm and look forward to the future with Hope. May the descent of the light upon each one of us this jubilee year be a ray in each other’s lives as we journey together as messengers of Hope. We wish you a Hope-filled and Grace-filled year 2025!