Pope Leo proclaimed 2026 a Holy Year in honor of St. Francis
On January 10, Pope Leo XIV proclaimed that 2026 would be a Franciscan Jubilee Year, or the Year of St. Francis of Assisi. This dedication commemorates the 800th anniversary year of St. Francis’ death, and will last until January 10 of 2027.
However, we just finished the 2025 Jubilee Year of Hope proclaimed by Pope Francis. Why are there two jubilee years in a row? The answer lies in the difference between ordinary and extraordinary jubilees, and holy years.
According to the Vatican, “a Holy Year, or Jubilee is a great religious event. It is a year of forgiveness… of reconciliation… and consequently of solidarity, hope, justice, commitment to serve God with joy and in peace with our brother and sister. A Jubilee year is above all the year of Christ, who brings life and grace to humanity.”
We can find the origin of Jubilee years in the Bible, specifically in Leviticus: “You shall hallow the fiftieth year and proclaim the liberty throughout the land, to all its inhabitants; it shall be a jubilee for you when each of you shall return to his property and each of you shall return to his family.” The first jubilee was proclaimed in AD 1300 by Pope Boniface VII; he initially set the time between jubilee years at 100 years, but subsequent Popes shortened it over time to 25 years, which is where it rests today.
While an ordinary jubilee occurs every 25 years, popes also have the authority to declare an extraordinary jubilee for an outstanding event in history, or simply a holy year for an anniversary of a saint or a relevant theme. For example, Pope John Paul II proclaimed a Marian year in 1987, and a Year of the Family in 1994.
For Pope Leo, the Year of St Francis holds significance beyond celebrating the anniversary of an incredible saint. In a letter to the Ministers General of the Conference of the Franciscan Family on January 10, he wrote: “In this age, marked by so many seemingly interminable wars, by internal and social divisions that breed mistrust and fear, [St. Francis] continues to speak. Not because he offers technical solutions, but because his life points to the authentic source of peace.”
Since his inauguration, Pope Leo has used his platform to adamantly champion peace through various avenues, many of which involve speaking on political matters. Regarding immigration, Leo said, “When people are living good lives — and many of them (in the United States) for 10, 15, 20 years — to treat them in a way that is extremely disrespectful, to say the least [is not acceptable]”.
The Pope also recently expressed concern about rising international tensions and wars, saying, “War is back in vogue and a zeal for war is spreading. The principle established after the Second World War, which prohibited nations from using force to violate the borders of others, has been completely undermined.” These are just some of the occasions in which Leo has pointed out the need for peace in the world.
The Holy Year of St. Francis is an invitation for us all to remember and practice the Franciscan vision of peace. Pope Leo wrote in his Jan. 10 letter: “This insight resonates with particular urgency in our time, when our common home is threatened and groans under exploitation. Peace with God, peace among people, and peace with Creation are inseparable dimensions of a single call to universal reconciliation.”
Until the Holy Year ends on January 10, 2027, Catholics are able to obtain a plenary indulgence in honor of the Jubilee Year. Receiving a plenary indulgence removes all of the punishment due to sin up to that point in your life, provided you are in a state of grace when you receive the indulgence. As a Catholic, you are able to receive a plenary indulgence by making a pilgrimage to any Franciscan conventual church or place of worship dedicated to St. Francis. These sites can be found on the websites GC Catholic and Franciscans USA.