The Jubilee 2025 is an extraordinary event in the life of the Catholic Church that invites all the faithful to join in a time of grace, conversion, and spiritual renewal. This Jubilee, proclaimed by Pope Francis, will be a call to deepen our faith and live more fully the mercy of God. But what exactly does this Jubilee mean, and why is it so important for each of us?
What is a Jubilee?
A Jubilee is a special year of forgiveness and reconciliation instituted by the Church. In the Catholic tradition, a Jubilee is celebrated every 25 years (ordinary Jubilee) and sometimes in an extraordinary way, as in 2025, to offer the faithful an opportunity to be reconciled with God and receive abundant spiritual graces. In these years, a plenary indulgence is offered, that is, the complete forgiveness of temporal punishments for sins, as an invitation to start anew in Christian life.
The Importance of Jubilee 2025
Jubilee 2025 has a profound meaning not only on the spiritual level, but also in the life of the Church as a universal community. It is a unique opportunity to:
- Renew faith: It invites us to approach God with a repentant heart and willing to live according to his commandments.
- Strengthen unity: Through participation in jubilee events, the faithful from all over the world will unite as one family in Christ, sharing the same love and hope.
- Live the mercy of God: This Jubilee reminds us of God’s infinite mercy and the call to be merciful to others. It is a time to forgive and ask for forgiveness, seeking inner and outer peace.
Pope Francis has noted that Jubilee 2025 will be an opportunity to reconnect with the deeper meaning of Christian life and to put into practice the mandate of Evangelization in our environment.
Highlighted Events
Throughout the Jubilee year, special events will take place that will include liturgical celebrations, pilgrimages, and solemn Masses. Some of the highlights will be:
- The opening of the Holy Door in Rome: At St. Peter’s Basilica, the Pope will open the Holy Door, marking the official beginning of the Jubilee. This act symbolizes the entrance into a time of grace and renewal for all the faithful.
- Jubilee Pilgrimages: As is tradition, pilgrimages to the holy places of Rome, Jerusalem, Lourdes, Fatima, and other spiritual destinations will be essential. The faithful who make pilgrimages to these places will be able to receive plenary indulgences.
- Eucharistic Celebrations and Catechesis: Worldwide, there will be a series of Eucharistic celebrations and catechesis aimed at deepening the meaning of the Jubilee, divine mercy, and personal conversion.
- World Youth Day (WYD) in Lisbon 2025: Although not an exclusive Jubilee event, WYD will be a significant milestone on the road to 2025, bringing together young people from around the world to experience an encounter of faith and joy.
How Can the Faithful Participate?
Jubilee 2025 is a call to all Catholics, no matter where they are, to live this special year with spiritual intensity. Here are some ways the faithful can participate:
- Pilgrimage to Holy Places: Organize a pilgrimage to Rome or other holy places. If travel is not possible, you can make a symbolic pilgrimage, visiting local churches or prayer centers and offering your sacrifice and prayers.
- Receiving the Plenary Indulgence: Through the conditions established by the Church (confession, Eucharist, and prayer for the Pope’s intentions), the faithful will be able to gain the plenary indulgence, receiving full forgiveness of temporal punishments.
- Participating in Special Masses and Liturgical Activities: Attend special Masses and celebrations organized in your diocese or parish. In addition, the Jubilee will include a series of events in parishes so that the faithful can engage in a process of formation, prayer, and reflection.
- Practicing Mercy: The Jubilee is a time to live mercy in a practical way. Helping those in need, forgiving those who have offended us, and living the Gospel in our daily actions are ways to participate in this Jubilee.
- Prayer and Conversion: Use this time for a closer encounter with God through prayer, meditation on the Scriptures, and the sacrament of reconciliation. The Jubilee invites us to a true personal conversion, leaving behind the attitudes that distance us from God.
The Jubilee 2025 is a gift that God offers to all humanity. Through it, a time of grace, healing and spiritual renewal opens. This event is an invitation to rekindle our faith, live mercy and strengthen our union as a Church. No matter where you are in the world, the Jubilee is a time of joy and hope, where all Catholics can experience the closeness of God and make their lives a testimony of Christ’s love.
May this Jubilee inspire us to be merciful, generous, and fervent in prayer, knowing that God calls us to live this year as an opportunity to transform our lives and the world around us.
Calendar of Events for the Jubilee 2025 in Rome
December 24, 2024 – Opening of the Holy Door of St. Peter’s Basilica.
JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2025
January 24-26 | Jubilee of the World of Communication
February 8-9 | Jubilee of the Armed Forces, Police and Security Forces
February 15-18 | Jubilee of Artists
February 21-23 | Jubilee of Deacons
MARCH-APRIL 2025
March 8-9 | Jubilee of the World of Volunteering
March 28 | 24 Hours for the Lord
March 28-30 | Jubilee of the Missionaries of Mercy
April 5-6 | Jubilee of the Sick and the World of Health
April 25-27 | Jubilee of Adolescents
April 28-29 | Jubilee of People with Disabilities
MAY-JULY 2025
May 1-4 | Jubilee of Workers
May 4-5 | Jubilee of Entrepreneurs
May 10-11 | Jubilee of Musical Bands
12-14 May | Jubilee of the Eastern Churches
16-18 May | Jubilee of Confraternities
30 May – 1 June | Jubilee of Families, Children, Grandparents and the Elderly
7-8 June | Jubilee of Movements, Associations and New Communities
9 June | Jubilee of the Holy See
14-15 June | Jubilee of Sport
20-22 June | Jubilee of Governors
23-24 June | Jubilee of Seminarians
25 June | Jubilee of Bishops
25-27 June | Jubilee of Priests
28 July – 3 August | Jubilee of Young People
SEPTEMBER-DECEMBER 2025
15 September | Jubilee of Consolation
20 September | Jubilee of Justice Workers
26-28 September | Jubilee of Catechists
4-5 October | Jubilee of Migrants, Jubilee of the Missionary World
8-9 October | Jubilee of Consecrated Life
11-12 October | Jubilee of Marian Spirituality
31 October – 2 November | Jubilee of the Educational World
16 November | Jubilee of the Poor
22-23 November | Jubilee of Choirs and Choral Groups
14 December | Jubilee of Prisoners
24 December 2025 – Closing of the Holy Door of St. Peter’s Basilica.
