What is the Jubilee?

“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 is the Nobel, the ram’s horn used to proclaim the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur). This (Jewish) holiday occurs every year but 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 organize, it was intended to be marked as a time to re-establish a proper relationship with God, one another, and all of creation. It 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: “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, encounters with others, and 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 Redemption’s 1900th anniversary; in 2015, Pope Francis proclaimed the Year of Mercy as an extraordinary jubilee. How Jubilee Years are marked has also changed through the centuries: initially, 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.

While many jubilee events will take place in Rome and at the Vatican, it’s a celebration for the whole church. On Dec. 29, 2024, diocesan bishops are expected to open the Holy Year locally with Masses at their cathedrals and co-cathedrals. Catholics are encouraged to make pilgrimages to their cathedral during the year and should watch diocesan communications for local events. While Pope Francis encouraged bishops to designate Holy Doors for their own cathedrals during the Jubilee Year of Mercy in 2015, there will only be Holy Doors at the Vatican and in Rome this year.

Local Pilgrimage Sites for Jubilee Year of Hope

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Local Pilgrimage Sites for Jubilee Year of Hope +

This year, the only Holy Doors are in the city of Rome and are located at the four major basilicas listed below, with an additional one at Rebibbia Prison.

  • Basilica of Saint Peter

  • Basilica of Mary Major

  • Basilica of Saint John Lateran

  • Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops has designated the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, DC, as a pilgrimage site. The pilgrimage site does not have a Holy Door, nonetheless it has been designated as a place where the people of God can travel to reflect and obtain a plenary indulgence satisfying the ordinary requirements of the Catholic Church.

The Archdiocese of Atlanta, have designated these churches to be local pilgrimage sites. These sites will welcome pilgrims beginning on the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord, Sunday, February 2, to the Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord on Tuesday, January 6, 2026. Even though there are no “Holy Doors” at these churches, there will be “Pilgrim Doors,” through which all pilgrims are invited to enter.

Individuals, families and small groups can make a pilgrimage throughout the year to these sites to obtain a plenary indulgence during this jubilee year. This will grant remission of temporal consequences for sin. The requirements for the grace of plenary indulgence are the ordinary established by the Catholic Church:

  • visit to the pilgrimage site

  • an act of mercy or penance

  • confession before visiting the pilgrimage site

  • reception of Holy Communion at the pilgrimage site or the local parish before or after the visit to the pilgrimage site prayer for the intentions of His Holiness Pope Francis at the pilgrimage site

    IMPORTANT NOTE:

    Since there is only one priest at most of the pilgrimage sites, no confessions will be available for pilgrims. We strongly encourage the people to go to confession at their own parish before the pilgrimage.