
Jubilee Year of Hope 2025

Every 25 years, the Catholic Church celebrates a Jubilee Year with the pope designating that year's theme. A Jubilee Year or "Holy Year" is an occasion for Catholics worldwide to renew or strengthen their relationship with God. The first Jubilee was declared by Pope Boniface VIII on February 22, 1300 (Feast of the Chair of St. Peter), to mark the beginning of that century. He later recommended it occurring every 100 years. Pope Paul II later in 1475 proclaimed Jubilee Years to be held every 25 years which was approved shortly after his death by his successor, Sixtus IV. The most recent Jubilee Year in 2000 was the Year of Mercy as declared by Pope John Paul II.
For 2025, Pope Francis proclaimed a "Jubilee Year of Hope" based on the Letter of St. Paul to the Romans: "Hope does not disappoint".
For each Jubilee Year, the Holy Doors of the four major basilicas are opened: St. Peter's Basilica, the Basilica of St. Mary Major, the Arch-Basilica of St. John Lateran, and the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls. This year, Pope Francis also opened the Holy Doors of the Rebibbia New Complex Prison in Rome, the first pope in history to do so.