The Jubilee Year 2025
A Holy Year inviting us to be “Pilgrims of Hope.”
Pilgrims of Hope
Every 25 years, the Catholic Church recognizes a special year to “proclaim liberty to captives, recovery of sight to the blind, and letting the oppressed go free.” A year that proclaims liberation, conversion, and reconciliation to mark a time to re-establish a proper relationship with God.
These Jubilee years each take on a particular theme, but are often rooted in forgiveness. Traditionally, these years include gestures of amnesty or pardons. Pope Francis announced the 2025 Jubilee Year in a document, called a “Bull of Indiction,” titled “Spes Non Confudit.” This title translates in English to: “Hope Does Not Disappoint.”
The Jubilee Year 2025 began on December 24, 2024 when Pope Francis opened the Holy Doors at St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome and closed on January 6, 2026 — the feast of Epiphany — when Pope Leo XIV closed the Holy Doors.
“For all of us, may the Jubilee be an opportunity to be renewed in hope”
– Pope Francis
A tangible expression of hope.
In the invitation to this Jubilee Year, Pope Francis called on Catholics to strengthen their own sense of hope, but also to “be tangible signs of hope” in the world.
One concrete expression of hope that Pope Francis explicitly called for in Jubilee 2025 was the abolition of the death penalty.
“Be one in demanding dignified conditions for those in prison, respect for their human rights and above all the abolition of the death penalty, a provision at odds with Christian faith and one that eliminates all hope of forgiveness and rehabilitation.”
– Pope Francis
Jubilee Webinar | Pilgrims of Hope: Tools for the Synodal Journey
CMN kicked off the Jubilee Year with a webinar exploring its relationship with the ongoing call to synodality, how we can manifest “tangible signs of hope” in our midst, and opportunities to engage death penalty abolition and restorative practices in the spirit of Jubilee throughout the year.
Jubilee Action — President Biden Commutes Federal Death Sentences
CMN’s network took concrete Jubilee action urging President Biden to commute the sentences of the 40 men on federal death row. In a historic decision on December 23, President Biden commuted 37 of those 40 sentences.
“Be tangible signs of hope for those of our brothers and sisters who experience hardships of any kind.”
– Pope Francis
2025 National Catholic Conference on Restorative Justice
September 25-27 | Atlanta, GA
CMN’s 2025 National Catholic Conference on Restorative Justice took on the theme Tangible Signs of Hope. Drawing inspiration from the special Jubilee Year 2025, the conference illuminated concrete examples of where and how Catholics can contribute to restorative justice efforts that transform the U.S. systems of capital punishment and incarceration.
Explore more for Jubilee 2025
Find additional resources and events created and hosted by CMN throughout the Holy Year.
Pray in union with all of those around the world, with the words of Pope Francis for this special Jubilee Year of 2025.
In collaboration with the Catholic Prison Ministries Coalition, Catholic Mobilizing Network assisted in preparing this resource for the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops in honor of the Jubilee of Prisoners.
CMN kicked off the Jubilee Year with a webinar exploring its relationship with the ongoing call to synodality, how we can manifest “tangible signs of hope” in our midst, and opportunities to engage death penalty abolition and restorative practices in the spirit of Jubilee throughout the year.
In this webinar, you’ll hear from Catholic Mobilizing Network, a lawyer with decades of experience litigating capital cases as a defense attorney, and a religious sister who has provided spiritual accompaniment for individuals residing on the federal death row in Terre Haute, Indiana—even accompaniment to their execution.
Watch the recording of Sr. Helen Prejean and Catholic Mobilizing Network (CMN)’s powerful conversation on Dead Man Walking — now a graphic novel — and the urgent fight for mercy and justice in today’s world. Hear Sr. Helen’s insights on the death penalty, the power of storytelling, and why these issues matter now more than ever.
Hear the powerful stories of how the Grosmaire and McBride families’s own personal experience with restorative justice led them to work, both together and apart, for the benefit of the community and social justice nationwide.
The U.S. federal death penalty operates separately from capital punishment throughout the states. Learn more about the current status of the federal death penalty along with facts and figures here.
Help CMN end the death penalty
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