The theme for the 2025 World Day of Peace, to be celebrated on January 1, is "Forgive us our trespasses: grant us your peace," as announced by Pope Francis. This theme emphasizes the need for deep and authentic transformation at every level—personal, local, and international—in order for genuine peace to emerge, according to the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development.

In a statement released on Thursday, the Dicastery emphasized that peace involves more than just the cessation of conflicts. It also requires the healing of wounds and the recognition of each person's dignity. The World Day of Peace is observed annually on January 1, coinciding with the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God. Since its inception in 1967 by Pope St. Paul VI, the day has served as an occasion for  Popes to offer reflections on important themes such as human rights, diplomacy, the United Nations, and economic development.

The 2025 theme, "Forgive us our trespasses: grant us your peace," aligns with the biblical and ecclesial themes of the Jubilee Year. The Dicastery noted that the theme draws inspiration from Pope Francis's encyclicals "Laudato si’" and "Fratelli tutti," focusing particularly on the themes of hope and forgiveness, which are central to the Jubilee. This Jubilee period is seen as a time for conversion, encouraging reconciliation and peace instead of condemnation.

The statement further explains that when considering the conflicts and social sins affecting humanity today through the lens of the Jubilee's hope, which includes the forgiveness of sins and the cancellation of debts, along with insights from the Church Fathers, several guiding principles emerge. These principles aim to inspire essential changes across spiritual, social, economic, ecological, and cultural dimensions.