The Jubilee Year of Hope was launched by Pope Francis on 24 December 2024 when he opened the Holy Door at Saint Peter’s Basilica. The theme for the Holy Year is Pilgrims of Hope. (Read more here: Pope Francis ‘throws open’ Holy Door to inaugurate 2025 Jubilee – Catholic Bishops’ Conference)
The Holy Door is deemed ‘Holy’ since it calls all those who enter through it to walk in holiness of life. In the footsteps of the Pope, during the singing of the Jubilee hymn, representatives of the entire People of God crossed its threshold, as a prelude to the countless pilgrims of hope from every country and language who will visit St. Peter’s Basilica and celebrate the mysteries of salvation during the Holy Year. The Ordinary Jubilee will conclude with the closing of the same Holy Door on 6 January 2026, the Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord.
The origin of the custom goes back to Pope Martin V who, for the Extraordinary Jubilee of 1423, opened a Holy Door to enter the Lateran Basilica. In St. Peter’s, it was first used for the Jubilee of 1450.
Bishop Alan writes: “In Acts of the Apostles we hear how God opens doors of faith to gentiles and others. The astonishing truth at the heart of every successful Holy Year is that we can learn through experience that God’s mercy and forgiveness are always utterly generous. When pilgrims walk through a Holy Door – a door of faith – we will be astonished about how straightforward our reconciliation with God is:
‘Almighty God… in this year of grace… bound to Christ the rock of our salvation, may we happily attain the goal of blessed hope’. [cf Collect from the Mass of Holy Year].”
In the Diocese of Brentwood Holy Doors will be opened in:
- The Cathedral of St Mary & St Helen, Brentwood;
- The National Shrine of Our Lady of Light, Spouse of the Holy Spirit, Clacton;
- St Antony of Padua, Forest Gate.
On Sunday 29 December, the Feast of the Holy Family, Bishop Alan inaugurated the Holy Year in the diocese during the 11.30 Mass at the Cathedral. He has also issued a pastoral letter (see here).
For more information on the Year of Jubilee go to: