Pope Leo XIV concluded the Catholic Church’s Holy Year by urging Christians to show kindness to foreigners and assist those in need during a ceremony at the Vatican.
Pope Leo XIV officially closed the Catholic Church’s Holy Year on Tuesday, calling on Christians worldwide to extend kindness to foreigners and provide support to those in need. His remarks were delivered during a ceremony at the Vatican, where he emphasized the importance of compassion and understanding in a world often driven by economic gain.
During his address, Pope Leo highlighted the record number of 33.5 million pilgrims who visited Rome throughout the Holy Year. He urged them to recognize the humanity in every individual, stating, “Around us, a distorted economy tries to profit from everything. After this year, will we be better able to recognize a pilgrim in the visitor, a seeker in the stranger, a neighbor in the foreigner?”
Holy Years, or jubilees, are traditionally observed every 25 years and are regarded as periods of peace, forgiveness, and pardon. Pilgrims visiting Rome during this time had the opportunity to enter special “Holy Doors” at four major basilicas and attend papal audiences throughout the year.
Pope Leo marked the conclusion of the Holy Year by closing the special bronze door at St. Peter’s Basilica, a significant ritual that officially signifies the end of the jubilee. The next Holy Year is anticipated to take place in 2033, coinciding with the 2,000th anniversary of the death of Jesus.
On the eve of the Holy Year’s closure, Vatican and Italian officials reported that pilgrims traveled to Rome from 185 countries, with the largest groups coming from Italy, the United States, Spain, Brazil, and Poland. The 2025 jubilee was initially opened by the late Pope Francis, who passed away in April, and was concluded by Pope Leo, who was elected in May. This transition between two popes during a single jubilee is a rare occurrence, not seen in 300 years. The last time a Holy Year was opened by one pope and closed by another was in 1700, when Pope Innocent XII opened the jubilee, which was later closed by Pope Clement XI.
Pope Leo has committed to upholding the policies of his predecessor, including welcoming LGBTQ+ Catholics and engaging in discussions about women’s ordination. In his closing remarks, he reiterated Francis’ critiques of the global economic system, stating that markets often reduce human experiences of seeking, traveling, and starting anew to mere transactions.
As the Holy Year comes to a close, Pope Leo XIV’s message resonates with a call for compassion and solidarity, urging Christians to embrace the values of kindness and support for those who are often marginalized.
According to Reuters, the Pope’s address reflects a continued commitment to social justice and the humane treatment of all individuals, regardless of their background.