The Catholic Jubilee Year, established in 1300 by Pope Boniface VIII, is rooted in the Jewish tradition of releasing prisoners, forgiving debts, and restoring harmony every 50 years. During the Jubilee, Catholics can receive plenary indulgences, which remove the temporal punishment for sins already forgiven. These indulgences can also be offered by the living for the relief of souls in purgatory.
In this episode of Inside the Vatican, Colleen Dulle and Gerard O’Connell discuss the 2025 Jubilee Year, beginning on Christmas Eve 2024 and ending in January 2026. With the theme “Pilgrims of Hope,” Pope Francis seeks to rekindle hope and trust in the future, encouraging Catholics to deepen their faith through acts of charity, penance, and pilgrimage.
The hosts explore the history of the Jubilee Year, the Vatican’s plans for 2025, and Rome’s preparations to accommodate an anticipated 32 million pilgrims. They also offer travel tips for visitors and alternatives for those unable to make the trip to the Eternal City.
Links for further reading
- 10 things to know about Jubilee 2025—the Holy Year that begins on Christmas Eve
- Hope is the central message of Pope Francis’ decree for Jubilee Year 2025
- How to receive an indulgence during the 2025 Jubilee year
- Official website for Jubilee 2025 in Rome
- Pope Francis calls for end to foreign debt, death penalty ahead of Jubilee Year
