Our reporter
Pope Francis marked the start of the Catholic Church’s Holy Year with an impassioned call for courage and hope, urging the faithful to challenge injustices and strive for a better world.
Speaking during Christmas Eve Mass at St. Peter’s Basilica, the pontiff tied the birth of Jesus to a universal call for transformation and renewal.
Presiding over his 12th Christmas as leader of the Roman Catholic Church, the 88-year-old pontiff emphasised the power of hope in his sermon, which aligned with the theme of the 2025 Jubilee. “Hope is a summons to leave behind mediocrity and embrace the courage to change what is wrong,” Francis said.
The Mass was attended by approximately 6,000 worshippers inside the basilica, with another 25,000 gathered outside in St. Peter’s Square to follow the ceremony on large screens.
The evening began with the ceremonial opening of St. Peter’s Basilica’s “Holy Door,” a symbolic act performed only during Jubilee years. Pilgrims walking through the bronze-panelled door can receive indulgences, or forgiveness of sins, as part of the spiritual benefits tied to the Jubilee. The Vatican anticipates that up to 100,000 pilgrims will pass through the door daily throughout 2025, with a total of 32 million tourists expected in Rome over the year.
Jubilees, held approximately every 25 years, are traditionally times of forgiveness, peace, and reconciliation. The 2025 Jubilee is set to conclude on January 6, 2026.
Using the occasion to address global inequality, Pope Francis urged wealthy nations to ease the debt burdens of poorer countries. “The Jubilee calls us to spiritual renewal and commits us to the transformation of our world,” he said. “It is a time of jubilee for those bound by debt and for those oppressed by old and new forms of slavery.”
This echoes a similar appeal made by Pope John Paul II during the 2000 Jubilee, which led to significant debt relief initiatives and the cancellation of $130 billion in debts for developing countries between 2000 and 2015.
Despite suffering from a cold in recent days, Pope Francis appeared energetic, delivering his message with only a slight rasp in his voice. He is scheduled to deliver his traditional Christmas Day “Urbi et Orbi” message and blessing on Wednesday, addressing Catholics worldwide.
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