Jubilee 2025: Pilgrims of Hope

Jubilee 2025: Pilgrims of Hope

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What is a Jubilee year?

The Jubilee tradition dates back to the Book of Leviticus where, every 50 years, debts were forgiven, land was restored and fields were left to rest. The aim was to realign the community with God, neighbour and the wider creation. Pope Francis, in his Bull of Indiction, draws on these biblical roots, stating: “Let us renew our hearts before the Lord, accepting his invitation to genuine freedom.”

He announces that, in the modern Church, Jubilees occur every 25 years. These special periods are marked by prayer, pilgrimage, charitable acts, and the opportunity to receive a plenary indulgence. Pope Francis encourages believers to embrace these practices, saying: “Seek the face of Christ in those who are burdened, and learn mercy through humble service.”

By carrying forward this ancient tradition, we recognise that forgiveness, compassion and respect for creation are not relics of the past, but living calls for today’s Church and for every generation.

Holy Doors and Churches

The Jubilee Year 2025 began on Christmas Eve with the opening of the Holy Door at St Peter's Basilica in Rome. Holy Doors serve as a powerful symbol of Christ as the doorway to salvation, echoing his words in John 10:9: “I am the door; if anyone enters by me, he will be saved.” Pilgrims passing through these doors are invited to experience God's mercy, renew their faith, and deepen their commitment to following Christ.

Pope Francis, in his Bull of Indiction Spes Non Confundit ("Hope Does Not Disappoint"), writes: “Crossing the Holy Door is not simply a ritual; it is a sign of the heart's openness to the transforming grace of God. It is an invitation to rediscover the joy of forgiveness and to embrace a life of mercy.”

In the Diocese of Galway, Kilmacduagh, and Kilfenora, the Cathedral of Our Lady Assumed into Heaven and St Nicholas in Galway, and in the Diocese of Clonfert, the Cathedral of St Brendan in Loughrea, have been designated as special places of pilgrimage. Here, pilgrims may obtain the Holy Year indulgence, encountering reconciliation, grace, and the opportunity to draw closer to Christ during this Jubilee Year.

Plenary Indulgence

The Year of Jubilee provides a special opportunity to obtain a Plenary Indulgence — a grace that renews our souls and strengthens our resolve against sin.

As Pope Francis writes, “The Jubilee Indulgence represents the fullness of God's mercy, which extends to the remission of temporal punishment due to sin. Indulgences may also be offered on behalf of deceased loved ones, fostering solidarity with those who have gone before us.

To obtain a Plenary Indulgence, one must:

  • Resolve to avoid sin and live in charity.
  • Go to confession.
  • Receive the Eucharist.
  • Pray for the intentions of the Pope.

Pilgrims can also receive this grace by visiting a designated Jubilee site and engaging In prayer. For those unable to travel — including the sick, prisoners, and those with accessibility needs — the indulgence may be obtained wherever they are by praying the Our Father, the Profession of Faith, and other Holy Year prayers.

This unique grace reminds us of God's abundant mercy and invites us to journey spiritually for ourselves and others, offering prayerful support for souls in need.

Reconciliation in the Jubilee tradition

The Jubilee carries a profound message of forgiveness and reconciliation, rooted in scriptural tradition. In Leviticus, the Day of Atonement saw the high priest enter the Holy of Holies, passing through the veil to offer a sacrifice for the sins of the people.

As Christians, we believe this finds fulfilment in Christ's ultimate sacrifice. On the cross, he atoned for all sins. Matthew's Gospel recounts that in this moment, “the veil of the temple was torn in two’ (Matthew 27:51), symbolising the removal of the divide between God and his people.

Reconciliation during the Jubilee reminds us of Christ's invitation to forgiveness. It calls us to rediscover the joy of the Sacrament of Reconciliation, to hear the words of absolution, and restore our relationship with God.

“Let us not forget that God never tires of forgiving us; it is we who tire of seeking his mercy’ (Pope Francis).

The Jubilee year presents an opportunity to embrace God's forgiveness fully, renewing our hearts and souls. This act of reconciliation restores peace and strengthens our bond with Christ, reminding us that mercy is always within reach for those who seek it.

The jubilee logo incorporates the following elements:

  1. The Cross is the ultimate symbol of hope, reminding us of Christ’s light in the darkest of times; his victory over death itself.
  2. These figures represent all humanity from the four corners of the world. Each one holds onto another in solidarity, with the first holding on to the cross.
  3. The waves of the stormy sea represent the many difficulties we encounter on the pilgrimage of life, difficulties that often demand a greater sense of hope.
  4. The Cross takes the shape of a sail at the top, transforming to an anchor at the bottom - a great symbol of hope that keeps us centred through the storms of life.

Diocesan Jubilee 2025 Prayer

Loving Father,
we come before you,
in this Jubilee Year.

Our hearts are full of longing.
Now is the time to lay the past to rest.
Today is the day for a new beginning.

Breathe on us, Spirit of God.
Inspire us.
Strengthen us.

Help us to follow ever more closely
the example of Jesus, your Son.
Help us to love you with all our heart.
Help us to care for one another.

In a world upset by war and discord,
we beg for the gift of lasting peace.
With Mother Mary by our side,
may we journey together
as pilgrims of hope on the road of life.

We ask this of you, O loving Father,
through Christ our Lord.

Amen.