What is a Jubilee Year and
Why Are We Having One?
Jubilee in the Bible

The concept of ‘Jubilee” originates from Leviticus
25:8-55, where God commands the Israelites to
celebrate a year of Jubilee every fifty years, a time to
rest the land and its agricultural workers, release
slaves, and return land to its original owners. Key
passages include:
Leviticus 25:10: “Proclaim liberty throughout all the
land to all its inhabitants. It shall be a jubilee for you.”
Isaiah 61:1-2: “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon
me . . . to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”
Luke 4:18-19: Jesus applies Isaiah’s prophecy,
linking the Jubilee to his mission of salvation.
These verses underscore themes of freedom, mercy,
and redemption, which remain central to the Catholic
faith and life.

Jubilee in the Catholic Church
In the Catholic Church, Jubilee years traditionally
occur every twenty-five years. These are known
as Ordinary Jubilees and are times of special
grace, forgiveness, and renewal. The last Ordinary

Jubilee was in the year 2000, which marked the two-
thousandth anniversary of Christ’s birth. Now, in

2025, we celebrate the Jubilee theme Pilgrims of
Hope.

Pope Francis Jubilee 2025
Many wonder why 2025 is a Jubilee year for
Catholics. Pope Francis called this Catholic Jubilee

2025 to celebrate hope and invite Catholics world-
wide to deepen their faith. Because it marks the

1,700th anniversary of the First Council of Nicaea,
Jubilee 2025 also celebrates the fundamental
Christian truth of the Incarnation, that Jesus
is both true God and true man, a teaching always
believed in the early Church but dogmatically defined
at the Council to combat the Arian heresy.
“May the light of Christian hope illumine every man
and woman, as a message of God’s love addressed
to all!” —Pope Francis
Occasionally, a pope may declare an Extraordinary
Jubilee, as Pope Francis did with the Jubilee of
Mercy in 2015-2016. These are called to address
specific themes or needs within the Church. Both
types of Jubilees offer opportunities for pilgrimage,
indulgences, and spiritual growth.

The Theme for Jubilee Year 2025
The theme “Pilgrims of Hope” emphasizes the
ourney of faith and the role of hope in navigating
life’s challenges. As part of this theme, Catholics are
encouraged to trust in God’s providence and extend
that hope to others (see CCC 1817-1821).
May we all take advantage of this special opportunity
to celebrate God’s message of Hope for all humanity
during this Jubilee Year of grace!