What is a Jubilee Year?
A Jubilee Year in the Catholic Church is a special time of spiritual renewal, mercy, and pilgrimage, deeply rooted in biblical tradition and historical Church practice. It is a year set aside to help the faithful deepen their relationship with God, experience His mercy, and renew their commitment to Christian living. (Diocese of Honolulu, Office of Evangelization & Catechesis). An Ordinary Jubilee (e.g. the Year of Hope in 2025) happens approximately every 25 years but there are also Extraordinary Jubilee Years that can be declared at the Pope's discretion for a special purpose.
For the year 2025, the late Pope Francis chose the theme: "Hope Does Not Disappoint" (Spes Non Confundit), inviting the world to rediscover Christian hope amidst modern challenges.
Additional Resources
2025 Jubilee Prayer
Father in heaven,
may the faith you have given us
in your son, Jesus Christ, our brother,
and the flame of charity enkindled
in our hearts by the Holy Spirit,
reawaken in us the blessed hope
for the coming of your Kingdom.
May your grace transform us
into tireless cultivators of the seeds of the Gospel.
May those seeds transform from within both humanity and the whole cosmos
in the sure expectation
of a new heaven and a new earth,
when, with the powers of Evil vanquished,
your glory will shine eternally.
May the grace of the Jubilee
reawaken in us, Pilgrims of Hope,
a yearning for the treasures of heaven.
May that same grace spread
the joy and peace of our Redeemer
throughout the earth.
To you our God, eternally blessed,
be glory and praise for ever.
Amen
Spes Non Confundit — Jubilee 2025 Bull (issued by Pope Francis)
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Jubilee Celebration Calendar (issued by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops)
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CLICK HERE to view the Jubilee 2025 - Pilgrims of Hope page on the Diocese of Honolulu Website.