2025 will be a Jubilee Year, with a chance to get a plenary indulgence.
It was announced by Pope John Paul II at the end of the Great Jubilee (December 24, 1999 to January 6, 2001), that there will be a jubilee year every 25 years. Therefore, the year 2025 will be a Jubilee Year, beginning on December 24, 2024 and ending on January 6, 2026.
A Jubilee Year is a special year of grace, in which the Catholic Church offers the faithful the possibility of asking for a plenary indulgence (the remission of sins for themselves or for deceased relatives). A bit different from the secular calendar, the year starts on December 24.
The most well-known rite that starts the Jubilee Year is the opening of the Holy Door in Saint Peter’s Basilica. Normally walled up, the door is opened at this time.
This is followed on successive days by opening the Holy Doors on the other 3 Major Basilicas: Saint John Lateran, Saint Paul Outside the Walls and Saint Mary Major.
These doors remain open until the end of the Jubilee, when they are once again walled up.
There will be other Holy Doors for the 2025 Jubilee Year in addition to the ones in Rome.
For example, the Holy Door at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C. In preparation for the 2025 Jubilee Year the Holy Door was sealed and blessed on the First Sunday of Advent (Dec. 3, 2023) at noon by Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio.
There will undoubtedly be other Holy Doors in churches and shrines throughout the world for those who cannot travel to Rome…we just don’t have all the locations at this time.
Dioceses are customizing activities—some emphasize processions and Masses, others service projects or youth engagement. For example, the Diocese of Saint Petersburg’s Acts of Mercy initiative reflects a practical, community-driven approach.
Cultural and spiritual events, like concerts or exhibitions, may also emerge, inspired by Rome’s calendar (e.g., Jubilee of the World of Communications, January 24–26, 2025).
Since plans are still evolving, many dioceses haven’t finalized full schedules as of March 28, 2025. Check local diocesan websites or the USCCB’s Jubilee 2025 page for updates. The emphasis remains on accessible, hope-filled experiences, whether through travel to sacred sites or acts of charity closer to home
If you plan to travel to Rome for the Jubilee Year, we suggest you check out the many pilgrimages being offered by Select International Tours.