Vatican City: Pope Leo XIV said the Jubilee Year stands as a powerful sign of a renewed and reconciled world, as he led the final liturgy of 2025 at St Peter’s Basilica in Rome.
Presiding over the First Vespers of the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God on Wednesday evening, the Pope reflected on God’s plan for human history, a plan rooted in hope, mercy, and redemption. Around 5,500 faithful gathered inside the basilica for the year’s closing celebration.
In his homily, Pope Leo focused on a passage from Saint Paul’s Letter to the Galatians, which speaks of God sending his Son at the fullness of time. He explained that this mystery of Christ reveals a clear and loving plan for humanity, even in a world weighed down by sin and suffering.
Pope said many people today feel a deep need for a wise and merciful plan to guide history. At the same time, he warned that other plans are also at work in the world, including strategies aimed at power, control, and conflict, often hidden behind fine words, ideologies, or false religious claims.
Speaking before the singing of the Te Deum, Pope Leo thanked God for the gift of the Jubilee, describing it as a strong sign of hope for humanity and for the world. He also expressed gratitude to all those who served pilgrims throughout the year, helping to make Rome a welcoming city.
Pope recalled that this spirit of hospitality was a wish expressed by Pope Francis a year ago, and he said it should continue and grow even after the Jubilee period.
Reflecting on the role of Rome, Pope Leo said the city holds a special place in God’s plan not because of its power or past glory, but because of the witness of Peter, Paul, and the many martyrs who shed their blood there for Christ. For this reason, he said, Rome is truly the city of the Jubilee.
He expressed the hope that Rome would always care for the poor and the weak and remain animated by Christian hope, serving God’s plan of love for the entire human family.
After the liturgy, Pope went to St Peter’s Square, where he paused in prayer before the nativity scene and greeted the faithful and pilgrims gathered there to mark the end of the year.