“Jubilee” is the name given to a particular year; the name comes from the instrument used to mark its
launch. In this case, the instrument in question is the yobel, the ram’s horn, used to proclaim the Day
of Atonement (Yom Kippur). This (Jewish) holiday occurs every year, but it takes on special
significance when it marks the beginning of a Jubilee year. We can find an early indication of it in the
Bible: a Jubilee year was to be marked every 50 years, since this would be an “extra” year, one which
would happen every seven weeks of seven years, i.e., every 49 years (cf. Leviticus 25:8-13). Even
though it wasn’t easy to organise, it was intended to be marked as a time to re-establish a proper
relationship with God, with one another, and with all of creation, and involved the forgiveness of
debts, the return of misappropriated land, and a fallow period for the fields.
Quoting the prophet Isaiah, the Gospel of Luke describes Jesus’ mission in this way: “The Spirit of the
Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to
proclaim liberty to captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, and to
proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord,” (Luke 4:18-19; cf. Isaiah 61:1-2). Jesus lives out these words
in his daily life, in his encounters with others and in his relationships, all of which bring about
liberation and conversion.
In 1300, Pope Boniface VIII called the first Jubilee, also known as a “Holy Year,” since it is a time in
which God’s holiness transforms us. The frequency of Holy Years has changed over time: at first, they
were celebrated every 100 years; later, in 1343 Pope Clement VI reduced the gap between Jubilees
to every 50 years, and in 1470 Pope Paul II made it every 25 years. There have also been
“extraordinary” Holy Years: for example, in 1933 Pope Pius XI chose to commemorate the
1900th anniversary of the Redemption, and in 2015 Pope Francis proclaimed the Year of Mercy as an
extraordinary jubilee. The way in which Jubilee Years are marked has also changed through the
centuries: originally the Holy Year consisted of a pilgrimage to the Roman Basilicas of St. Peter and
St. Paul, later other signs were added, such as the Holy Door. By participating in the Holy Year, one is
granted a plenary indulgence.
In his letter announcing the Jubilee, written in 2022, he referenced the fact that the world had
suffered much under the global COVID pandemic, and was in need of hope.
“We must fan the flame of hope that has been given us, and help everyone to gain new strength
and certainty by looking to the future with an open spirit, a trusting heart and far-sighted
vision. The forthcoming Jubilee can contribute greatly to restoring a climate of hope and trust
as a prelude to the renewal and rebirth that we so urgently desire; that is why I have chosen as
the motto of the Jubilee, Pilgrims of Hope”.
This month the prayer intention of Pope Francis is that by celebrating this Jubilee Year as Pilgrims of
Hope we will be strengthened in our faith, and enabled to recognise Christ amongst us, journeying
with us on this pilgrimage that we call life. Pray each day for Pope Francis, and pray with him his
prayer intention
