Vatican City: Pope Francis called on people around the world to find hope and courage to better the world, reflecting on the story of Jesus’ birth as a humble carpenter’s son. Leading the global Catholic community into Christmas on Tuesday, the pontiff celebrated the 12th Christmas of his papacy with a solemn Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica, marking the start of the 2025 Catholic Holy Year. The Vatican anticipates this Jubilee year will attract around 32 million pilgrims to Rome by 2026.
In his sermon, which focused on the theme of hope, Pope Francis emphasized that hope is not passive. “Hope is a summons not to tarry, to be kept back by our old habits, or to wallow in mediocrity or laziness,” he declared. “Hope calls us… to be upset with things that are wrong and to find the courage to change them.”
Pope Francis officially inaugurated the Holy Year on Christmas Eve by unlocking the Holy Door of St. Peter’s Basilica, a pivotal act symbolizing hope and redemption https://t.co/5t3xs8kq46 pic.twitter.com/hUTCioa8GO
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A Time for Renewal and Reflection
The Catholic Holy Year, or Jubilee, is a sacred time for peace, forgiveness, and spiritual renewal. Occurring every 25 years, it offers pilgrims the opportunity to obtain special indulgences, or remission of their sins. This year’s Jubilee will run through January 6, 2026. During the Mass, Pope Francis oversaw the opening of the “Holy Door” at St. Peter’s Basilica, a special bronze-panelled door that is only opened during Jubilee years. The Vatican expects up to 100,000 pilgrims to pass through the Holy Door daily in 2025.
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The Mass, attended by approximately 6,000 people in the basilica and another 25,000 viewing from the square, was also a platform for Pope Francis to renew his call for wealthy nations to act on behalf of low-income countries. The pontiff urged that the Jubilee be used as an opportunity to reduce the crushing debt faced by poorer nations.
A Call for Debt Relief and Transformation
“The Jubilee calls us to spiritual renewal and commits us to the transformation of our world,” Pope Francis stated. “A time of jubilee for the poorer countries burdened beneath unfair debts; a time of jubilee for all those who are in bondage to forms of slavery old and new.” This plea echoes a similar call made by Pope John Paul II during the Jubilee year of 2000, which helped initiate a campaign resulting in the cancellation of $130 billion of debt between 2000 and 2015.
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Despite a cold that had left his voice a bit raspy, Pope Francis, who turned 88 this month, appeared in good health during the Mass. He is set to deliver his Christmas Day “Urbi et Orbi” (to the city and the world) message and blessing on Wednesday.
