Pope Leo XIV Closes Jubilee Year with Call for Compassion
Pope Leo XIV wrapped up the Catholic Church’s jubilee year on Tuesday, urging Christians globally to assist those in need and show kindness to strangers.
During a ceremony at the Vatican, Leo highlighted the significance of caring for migrants—a recurring theme throughout his papacy. He remarked that the record 33.5 million pilgrims who visited Rome this year should remind us that people shouldn’t be treated merely as “commodities.”
“We live in a world where an often distorted economy seeks to profit from everything,” Leo pointed out. “Will this year help us better see the traveler in the visitor, the seeker in the stranger, and the neighbor in the foreigner?”
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The jubilee, which typically occurs every 25 years, symbolizes peace and forgiveness. Pilgrims visiting Rome have the chance to enter special “Sacred Doors” at the city’s four cathedrals and attend audiences with the Pope through the year.
On Tuesday morning, Leo officially closed the bronze doors of St. Peter’s Basilica, symbolizing the conclusion of the Jubilee Year.
The next jubilee is anticipated in 2033, potentially commemorating 2,000 years since Jesus’ death.
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Recently, Vatican officials announced that pilgrims for the 2025 Jubilee Year are expected to come from 185 countries, with a majority from Italy, the U.S., Spain, Brazil, and Poland.
This Jubilee was initiated by the late Pope Francis, who passed away in April and was concluded by Leo, the first American pope elected in May. It’s quite rare to see one pope open and another close a jubilee, with the last occurrence over 300 years ago in 1700.
In his remarks, Leo reiterated his commitment to the principles laid down by Francis, including welcoming gay Catholics and discussing the potential for women’s ordination. He echoed his predecessor’s critiques of the global economy, emphasizing how the market turns genuine human desires into mere transactions.
