On Christmas Eve of A.D. 2024, His Holiness, Pope Francis, opened the Holy Door (Porta Sancta) of St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican, thus marking the official start of the Ordinary Jubilee of A.D. 2025. In addition to the Holy Doors within St. Peter’s Basilica, His Holiness also opened the Holy Doors of the Archbasilica of St. John Lateran on the Feast of St. Thomas Becket; the 29th of December, & those of the Basilica of Saint Mary Major for the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God on the 1st of January, A.D. 2025. Finally, His Holiness is set to open the Holy Doors of the Basilica of St. Paul Outside-the-Walls tomorrow on Epiphany Eve, the 5th of January, A.D. 2025. The Ordinary Jubilee of A.D. 2025, having begun on this now-past Christmas Eve, will continue until the Feast of the Epiphany on the 6th of January, A.D. 2026. For those pilgrims unable to themselves travel to Rome, His Holiness has commanded all of the Bishops of the world to make their Cathedrals & Shrines available as places of pilgrimage, reconciliation, the reception of indulgences, & other events to promote & strengthen the faith of all who may visit them.

WHAT IS A JUBILEE YEAR?

A Jubilee Year or Holy Year is one designated especially for the remission of sins, debts, & of universal pardon. At its core, the Jubilee has its roots in Biblical tradition from the Book of Leviticus (25:10-13) [Douay & Rheims]:

(10)And thou shalt sanctify the fiftieth year, and shalt proclaim remission to all the inhabitants of thy land: for it is the year of jubilee. Every man shall return to his possession, and every one shall go back to his former family:

[10] "Remission": That is, a general release and discharge from debts and bondage, and a reinstating of every man in his former possessions.

(11) Because it is the jubilee and the fiftieth year. You shall not sow, nor reap the things that grow in the field of their own accord, neither shall you gather the first-fruits of the vines, (12) Because of the sanctification of the jubilee: but as they grow you shall presently eat them. (13) In the year of the jubilee all shall return to their possessions.

In the present tradition of the Catholic Church, a Jubilee Year is a time wherein the faithful are encouraged to reconcile with each-other, their families, friends, enemies, & most importantly, with Almighty God through the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Through partaking contritely in the Sacraments of Reconciliation & Holy Communion, by casting off any affection or attachment for sin, & by praying sincerely for the intentions of the Holy Father, any Christian in communion with the Supreme Pontiff may receive a Plenary Indulgence; the complete remission & forgiveness of all of their sins. Further, this indulgence can be obtained repeatedly throughout the Jubilee Year, & may be gifted (or “applied in suffrage”) to the poor & suffering souls in Purgatory.

THE IMPORTANT ROLE OF PILGRIMAGE

Especially important to participating in this Ordinary Jubilee is the pious act of making a Pilgrimage to holy sites throughout the world. Chief among these are Rome’s four major Papal Basilicas & those three principal Basilicas of the Holy Land; the Basilica of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem, the Basilica of the Nativity in Bethlehem, & the Basilica of the Annunciation in Nazareth. One may also obtain the Jubilee Indulgence by piously visiting those special holy sites throughout the world designated by their local Ordinaries (Bishops/Archbishops). As such, by the generous mercy of the Church, the Jubilee Indulgence can be gained by pious participation in a Pilgrimage as simple as to one’s own local Cathedral, or as monumental as a visit to Rome or the Holy Land.

OUTREMER is ready & able to provide our services to those who wish to make a pilgrimage to Rome, to the Holy Land, or to other Holy Sites of importance to the Christian Faith during this Ordinary Jubilee year & beyond. We officially launch this coming Monday, the 6th of January, on the Feast of the Epiphany.

Please browse our present selection of itineraries, read our story, & reach out to us to see just how easy & affordable an authentically Christian pilgrimage can be for an individual, group, or Parish.