Vatican City: The Jubilee Year 2025 will be remembered as one of the most emotional and historic periods in the life of the Catholic Church, marked by deep sorrow, renewed hope, and a new chapter of leadership.
The Holy Year began under Pope Francis, whose final months were lived amid fragile health and constant prayer from the faithful around the world. Even during his hospitalization in February, the Pope continued his pastoral mission, speaking against war, reaching out to suffering communities, and making historic appointments that placed women in key leadership roles within the Vatican.
Millions followed his health updates closely, joining nightly rosaries in St Peter’s Square and prayer vigils at Rome’s Gemelli hospital. His brief public appearances after discharge brought hope, but the joy was short lived. On Easter Monday, April 21, the Church and the world were shaken by the announcement of his death. More than 250,000 people attended his funeral, while countless others paid their respects as he lay in state. His tomb at the Basilica of St Mary Major has since become a constant place of prayer and remembrance.
Amid mourning, the Church moved forward with its ancient traditions. Cardinals from across the world gathered in Rome for the conclave, which concluded swiftly with the election of Pope Leo XIV on May 8. Born in the United States and shaped by decades of missionary service in Peru, the new Pope quickly set the tone of his pontificate with a simple but powerful message of peace.
Choosing the name Leo XIV in tribute to Pope Leo XIII, he called repeatedly for an unarmed and disarming peace, making reconciliation and dialogue central themes of his leadership. He revived the tradition of the papal summer residence at Castel Gandolfo, met world leaders, and offered the Vatican as a place for quiet mediation in global conflicts, especially the war in Ukraine.
Despite rising global tensions, the Jubilee Year drew extraordinary participation. More than 30 million pilgrims came to Rome, including over one million young people during the Jubilee of Youth. Canonizations of young saints and large gatherings highlighted the Church’s focus on hope, faith, and the future generation.
Pope Leo XIV also undertook his first international journey to TĂĽrkiye and Lebanon, combining ecumenical outreach with gestures of compassion for communities wounded by conflict and tragedy. His meetings with Christian leaders, other faith representatives, and young people reinforced his call for unity and peace beyond borders.
As the Jubilee Year of Hope nears its conclusion on January 6 with the closing of the Holy Door at St Peter’s Basilica, Church leaders are already looking ahead. Cardinals will gather again in early January 2026 for reflection and prayer, offering guidance and support as the Church continues its mission of unity, listening, and hope in a troubled world.