In a bull entitled Hope Does Not Disappoint, Pope Francis explains that the coming Jubilee Year is a Holy Year also celebrating the 1,700th anniversary of the Council of Nicea (325). Referencing Scripture, the pontiff prays that “the witness of believers be for our world a leaven of authentic hope, a harbinger of new heavens and a new earth where men and women will dwell in justice and harmony, in joyful expectation of the fultillment of the Lord’s promises.”
He writes, “Everyone knows what it is to hope. In the heart of each person, hope dwells as the desire and expectation of good things to come, despite not knowing what the future may bring.” He goes on to explain that hope is born of love which ultimately comes from Jesus upon the cross. In a few lines he describes St. Paul’s idea on hope and gives a short history of the jubilee years as pilgrimages. The Jubilee Year of 2025 he sets up as a Pilgrimage of Hope.
The pope will open the holy door of St. John Lateran, the cathedral of Rome, on November 9—the 1700th anniversary of its dedication. The door to St. Peter’s will be opened on December 29 and that of the Basilica of St. Mary Major on January 1—the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God. On January 5, 2025, the Holy Door of St. Paul Outside the Walls will be opened. All diocesan bishops are to celebrate a Mass as the solemn opening of the Jubilee Year. A delegate can be designated for celebrating in co-cathedrals. The Holy Year will conclude with the closing of the Holy Doors on Sunday, December 28, 2025.
Returning to a constant theme of his pontificate—world peace—Pope Francis writes that “the first sign of hope should be the desire for peace in our world…,” and he laments that we seem to be further from peace.
He wants us to have an enthusiasm for life and “a readiness to share it.” This brings him to comment on “the alarming decline in the birthrate” in some countries, which he blames on “today’s frenetic pace, fears about the future, the lack of job security and adequate social policies, and social models whose agenda is dictated by the quest for profit rather than concern for relationships.”
Finally Pope Francis calls on the Christian community to be “signs of hope” and details a variety of concrete ways this might occur. He asks “with all my heart that hope be granted to the billions of poor, who often lack the essentials of life,” and reminds the readers that “the goods of the earth are not destined for a privileged few, but for everyone.” He calls for a refocusing of financial priorities: “I renew my appeal that with the money spent on weapons and other military expenditures, let us establish a global fund that can finally put an end to hunger and favor development in the most impoverished countries, so that their citizens will not resort to violent or illusory situations, or have to leave their countries in order to seek a more dignified life.”
As 2025 coincides with the first ecumenical council of the Church, that of Nicea, this Jubilee Year will also be celebrating the 1700th anniversary of that Council. Pope Francis calls it “a milestone in the Church’s history” as it sought to preserve Church unity and debated the full divinity of Christ, establishing the concept of His “consubstantiality” with the Father, incorporating this into a Creed that is still recited today. The Council also discussed the date of Easter, unfortunately failing to come up with a universal method of establishing the date of celebration. In 2025, a common celebration will take place however.
The document was given at St. John Lateran on May 9, the Solemnity of the Ascension of Our Lord. It is the 12th year of Francis’ pontificate and his second Jubilee Year.
Spes non confundit: Bull of Indiction of the Ordinary Jubilee of the Year 2025 (English)
Decree on the Granting of Indulgence during the Ordinary Jubilee Year 2025 (English)
