Here are some questions you might ask
Here is a list of the most common Jubilee questions. If you can’t find an answer to your question, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us.
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The Jubilee 2025, also called the Holy Year, is a special year of grace and celebration within the Catholic Church, set to unite believers around the world in faith, renewal, and reconciliation. Marked by Pope Francis as a year of hope, this Jubilee invites the faithful to reflect on God’s mercy and to seek spiritual growth through acts of devotion, prayer, and charity.
The Jubilee 2025 officially begins on December 24, 2024, with the opening of the Holy Door at St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome. It will run until January 6, 2026, the Feast of the Epiphany, culminating in various celebrations, pilgrimages, and ceremonies dedicated to fostering unity, compassion, and faith.
Pope Francis has designated the theme of Jubilee 2025 as ‘Pilgrims of Hope’. This theme encourages Catholics worldwide to journey spiritually towards hope, drawing strength from faith to overcome life’s challenges. Emphasising reconciliation and mercy, the Jubilee reminds the faithful of God’s unwavering love and the Church’s call to spread hope.
The Holy Door is a sacred symbol of Christ, who opens the way to salvation. During the Jubilee, Holy Doors at major basilicas in Rome and other designated churches worldwide will open as a gesture of spiritual welcome. Pilgrims who pass through the Holy Door, in a spirit of penance and devotion, are invited to receive a special indulgence.
“An indulgence is a remission before God of the temporal punishment due to sins whose guilt has already been forgiven, which the faithful Christian who is duly disposed gains under certain prescribed conditions through the action of the Church which, as the minister of redemption, dispenses and applies with authority the treasury of the satisfactions of Christ and the saints. An indulgence is partial or plenary according as it removes either part or all of the temporal punishment due to sin. Indulgences may be applied to the living or the dead.” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, n. 1471)
During the Jubilee Year, the faithful are encouraged to obtain the Jubilee plenary indulgence by devoutly visiting any of the sites designated by local Bishops during the Jubilee Year, which are listed on this website. To receive the indulgence, in addition to visiting a designated Jubilee site, one must meet the normal conditions or rejecting all sin, praying for the Pope’s intentions, receiving Holy Communion and making a sacramental Confession.
Catholics in Australia can celebrate the Jubilee through local pilgrimages to designated Holy Door churches, special liturgies, and events hosted by dioceses and parishes. In addition, prayer and acts of charity are encouraged as ways to embody the Jubilee’s spirit of hope and unity. The Australian Catholic Bishops Conference is providing resources and information on local events and digital tools to help Australian Catholics participate fully in the Jubilee experience.