Reflection by Fr. Nathan LaLiberte
This Year of Jubilee in 2025, proclaimed by Pope Francis, is a profound invitation for the Church
and the world to rediscover the heart of Christian hope and mercy. The theme chosen by the Holy
Father, “Pilgrims of Hope,” could not be more timely. After years marked by global uncertainty,
conflict, and isolation, Pope Francis is calling us to journey forward, not weighed down by fear
or division, but strengthened by the hope that comes from Christ.
At its core, the Jubilee tradition is rooted in Scripture, where every 50 years God’s people were
called to rest, forgive debts, restore relationships, and care for the poor and marginalized. Pope
Francis is seeking to bring this biblical vision into the modern world, reminding us that mercy,
reconciliation, and renewal are not distant ideals but tangible realities that the Church is called to
make visible today.
What strikes me most about Pope Francis’ vision for Jubilee 2025 is how it emphasizes the
Church as a place of healing and refuge for all. He has expressed a desire for the Church to be
visibly open and welcoming during this time, with doors literally and spiritually wide open. In
his preparatory documents, he encourages dioceses and parishes to create spaces of hospitality
and encounter, where those who feel forgotten or far from the Church can find a home once
again.
Additionally, the Pope’s call to make this Jubilee a time of “consolation” challenges us to
accompany those who are suffering. Whether from poverty, war, loneliness, or the burdens of
daily life, we are to help them discover hope through acts of solidarity and compassion. Within
his declaration of the Jubilee year, Pope Francis also emphasizes the need for ecological
awareness, linking the care for creation with the hope and renewal that the Jubilee embodies.
Personally, I see this Jubilee as an opportunity for all of us to not only receive God’s mercy more
deeply but to become instruments of it. It is indeed the case that our world needs reasons to hope,
and Pope Francis’ invitation to become a pilgrim of hope is indeed warranted during these times.
