A Yearlong Journey As ‘Pilgrims Of Hope’

It is traditional to greet each new year with fresh hope and a spirit of renewal. For Catholics, this is especially true in 2025 — a Jubilee Year proclaimed by Pope Francis with the theme “Pilgrims of Hope."

This theme reflects the timeless Catholic understanding of earthly life as a pilgrimage — a journey of renewal and grace. During the Jubilee Year, Pope Francis invites every believer to embark on a pilgrimage of hope, “so that through our witness, may hope spread to all those who anxiously seek it.”

The Origins and Purpose of a Jubilee Year

The concept of the Jubilee has ancient Jewish roots. The first scriptural reference appears in Leviticus, where God declares to Moses that every 50th year — the year following seven cycles of seven years — shall be a Jubilee Year (Leviticus 25:8–55). It was a time to restore harmony between God and humanity. The land was to rest, slaves were to be freed, and property returned to its original owners.

Pope Boniface VIII declared the first official Jubilee Year in the Catholic Church in the year 1300 to mark the dawn of a new century. In the spirit of the Jewish observance, it was designated as a year of forgiveness and reconciliation — a time to call believers back to a holier way of life. Originally celebrated every 100 years, the Catholic Church later changed the frequency to every 50 years, and then to every 25 years.

The Pillars of the Jubilee: Repent, Renew, Rejoice

The Jubilee Year is centered on three foundational actions: repentance, renewal, and rejoicing.

“Each of these three central actions,” said Fr. Richard Vigoa, chaplain of Legatus’ Miami Chapter, “perfectly punctuates the Christian journey.”

These pillars echo the Paschal Mystery — Christ’s suffering, death, and resurrection — and offer a poignant rhythm for the liturgical seasons during the Jubilee Year. Lent becomes a time of repentance and renewal; Easter, the ultimate season of rejoicing.

The Call to Conversion

"This call to continual conversion is really about stepping into the stream of grace that’s flowing abundantly and allowing it to transform us,” said Fr. Vigoa.

The Jubilee Year invites the faithful to reflect on their spiritual debts — to God and to neighbor — and to embrace ongoing conversion. One powerful tool available during this holy year is the Jubilee indulgence, described in the Catechism of the Catholic Church (1471) as “a remission before God of temporal punishment due to sin… under certain prescribed conditions.”

“Indulgences flow from God’s mercy and His desire for us to be free of sin and to grow closer to Him,” explained Msgr. Charles Kosanke, chaplain of Legatus’ Detroit Chapter.

Gaining an Indulgence During the Jubilee Year

There are several ways to obtain an indulgence during this Jubilee Year. These include:

• Making a pilgrimage
• Passing through designated Holy Doors
• Participating in special liturgical celebrations
• Performing the corporal works of mercy
• Visiting the sacraments, especially Confession and the Eucharist

What matters most, however, is not simply the external act, but the interior transformation God desires for each soul. As Vigoa affirmed, “Nothing witnesses to the Gospel more powerfully than a life filled with joy.”

Doors to Renewal

“In the coming year,” Pope Francis writes, “pilgrims of hope will surely travel the ancient and more modern routes in order to experience the Jubilee to the full.”

One hallmark of the Jubilee is the ceremonial opening of the Holy Doors, marking the beginning of the holy year and inviting the faithful into a time of spiritual renewal. Passing through these doors is a powerful physical symbol of our spiritual journey from sin to salvation.

In Rome, Holy Doors will be opened at the four major basilicas and at Rebibbia Prison. In the U.S., the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C., has been named the nation’s designated pilgrimage site, and bishops may name their own cathedrals or basilicas as local pilgrimage sites as well.

According to the pope’s decree on Jubilee indulgences issued last May, an indulgence may also be obtained “by making a pious visit to other sacred places around the world, including any minor basilica, Marian sanctuary, or national sanctuary.”

Making Your Daily Life a Pilgrimage

Even for those who cannot travel, the Jubilee Year offers countless graces.

“We can still benefit by making our daily lives a kind of pilgrimage,” said Vigoa.

He recommends adding a weekday Mass to your schedule, frequenting the sacrament of Penance, and spending intentional time in prayer and reflection — even if just for a few minutes each day.

Both Vigoa and Kosanke emphasized that service and self-sacrifice often lead to our deepest joy and spiritual renewal. Acts such as feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, and visiting the sick and imprisoned — the corporal works of mercy — are concrete ways of extending Christ’s mercy to others.

A Year to Reawaken Faith

The Jubilee Year is not just an opportunity for individual renewal — it’s a call to rekindle the communal life of the Church.

Msgr. Kosanke expressed hope that the Church might experience “a renewed sense of community at both diocesan and parish levels.”

Vigoa added, “I hope this Jubilee Year will be a moment to rediscover unity — in our families, our communities, and within the Body of Christ.”