The Jubilee, also known as a Holy Year, is a year-long period of special significance in the Roman Catholic Church. It's a time for forgiveness, reconciliation, and spiritual renewal.
A jubilee is a special year of remission of sins, debts and universal pardon. In Leviticus, a jubilee year is mentioned to occur every 50th year; during which slaves and prisoners would be freed, debts would be forgiven, and the mercies of God would be particularly manifest.
Jubilee Year is traditionally proclaimed by the Universal Church every 25 years. The Holy Door of Saint Peter’s Basilica is opened by the Pope only at the beginning of a Jubilee Year. It is usually the first door to be opened to indicate the beginning of the Holy Year. This first evidence of the rite happening in St Peter’s was in the year 1500 during the papacy of Alexander VI.
Later, on 29 December, the Pope will open the Holy Door of the Archbasilica of St John Lateran, the Cathedral of Rome. On the same day, every Cathedral and co-Cathedral throughout the world will have Mass celebrated by the local Bishop to mark the opening of the Jubilee.
The Jubilee calendar events begin Tue, Dec 24, 2024, Opening of the Holy Door through Tue, Jan 6, 2026- Closing of the Doors.
The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) has more information in preparation for the Jubilee and the events throughout the year. For information you may go to: https://www.usccb.org/committees/jubilee-2025