What is Jubilee 2025?

Australian Resources

Questions pilgrims ask

"Brothers and sisters. May the Lord, risen from the dead and ascended into heaven, grant us the grace to rediscover hope, to proclaim hope and to build hope."
The Jubilee of Hope starts in Rome on Christmas Eve, December 24, 2024, and in local dioceses on Holy Family Sunday, December 29.
Holy years are traditionally associated with pilgrimages to Rome, and other holy shrines. Not everyone is able to travel to Rome, so this page offers you the opportunity to participate in the Holy Year locally – at your cathedral, at a church or shrine near you, or on your travels within Australia that had been designated by the local bishop.
Pope Francis has asked all bishops to nominate places of pilgrimage or designated shrines within their diocese.
By visiting these designated holy places, and participating in these opportunities for prayer and repentance, the faithful may obtain a “plenary indulgence”.
Also on this site are many resources to help you celebrate the various jubilees in your parish or school. These can be planned to coincide with the celebrations in Rome and in so doing celebrate as the universal church.
Learn more about plenary indulgence
A plenary indulgence is the remission of the temporal punishment due to sins whose guilt has already been forgiven. In order to obtain these indulgences when participating in a pilgrimage or visiting a holy shrine, the faithful must:
Plenary indulgences obtained during the Jubilee Year can also be applied to souls in purgatory.
We have prepared Jubilee 2025 resources for Australian Catholics.
Useful resources for Australian Catholics
Download these resources for your parish, school or community.
Here are the key events next year
We've compiled a list of key events taken from the Vatican calendar added wiith local events in Australia next year.
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.
Need help? Contact us here
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 November 2025, 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. Emphasizing 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 spiritual grace that lessens the temporal punishment due to sins. During the Jubilee, the Church offers special indulgences to encourage reconciliation and personal conversion. To obtain an indulgence, pilgrims are called to pass through the Holy Door with a contrite heart, participate in the Eucharist, pray for the Pope's intentions, and perform acts of charity or mercy.
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.
"For all of us, may the Jubilee be an opportunity to be renewed in hope. God's word helps us find reasons for that hope. Taking it as our guide, let us return to the message that the Apostle Paul wished to communicate to the Christians of Rome."

Pope Francis