Welcome to the worldwide celebration of the 2025 Jubilee Year! Bishops around the globe marked this special occasion on December 29 with Masses in cathedrals and co-cathedrals, all centered around the theme of hope. This Holy Year was inaugurated by Pope Francis on Christmas Eve with the opening of the Holy Door of St. Peter’s Basilica.
In the Holy Land, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa led a celebratory Mass at the Basilica of the Annunciation in Nazareth. The procession symbolized a collective journey towards renewal and hope. Despite the ongoing violence and suffering, Cardinal Pizzaballa emphasized the importance of faith, patience, and hope during this Jubilee Year.
Across the pond in London, Cardinal Vincent Nichols presided over an opening Mass at Westminster Cathedral, focusing on the urgency of renewal in a world scarred by tragedy. He highlighted the need to deepen and renew the place of hope in our lives during this Holy Year.
In the United States, bishops also opened the Jubilee Year in their dioceses, emphasizing the theme of hope that does not disappoint. The opening rites were followed by processions to the cathedral, carrying a jubilee cross of significance for the local church.
Even amidst the ongoing conflicts in Ukraine, the Jubilee Year was marked in several Catholic churches. His Beatitude Sviatoslav Shevchuk presided over a solemn liturgy in Kyiv, reminding the faithful that the hope of Ukraine lies in Jesus Christ. Despite the challenges, Christian hope remains the secret to the stability and invincibility of the Ukrainian people.
