On Christmas Eve, Pope Francis urged people to embrace courage and hope, drawing inspiration from Jesus’ humble birth as the son of a carpenter. He reminded the global Roman Catholic community that everyone has the power to make a meaningful impact on the world.
Pope Francis presided over the 12th Christmas of his pontificate and led a solemn Christmas Eve Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica. The pontiff also marked the opening of the 2025 Catholic Holy Year, which is expected to attract around 32 million tourists to Rome.
In his sermon, the pope emphasized the importance of hope, the central theme of the Holy Year.
“Hope is a summons not to tarry, to be kept back by our old habits, or to wallow in mediocrity or laziness,” he said.
Francis encouraged the faithful to challenge wrongs in the world and find the courage to enact change.
The Catholic Holy Year, or Jubilee, symbolizes peace, forgiveness, and spiritual renewal. Held every 25 years, it allows pilgrims to receive indulgences or remission of their sins. The upcoming Jubilee will run through January 6, 2026.
At the start of the ceremony, Pope Francis opened the bronze-paneled Holy Door at St. Peter’s Basilica, a tradition reserved for Jubilee years. The Vatican anticipates up to 100,000 pilgrims will walk through the Holy Door daily during the Holy Year.
During the Mass, Pope Francis reiterated his appeal for developed nations to reduce the debt burden on low-income countries.
“The Jubilee calls us to spiritual renewal and commits us to the transformation of our world,” Francis stated.
He urged for a Jubilee focused on lifting the economic burdens faced by poorer nations and liberating those trapped by modern forms of slavery.
This follows a precedent set during the 2000 Jubilee year when the late Pope John Paul II’s call for debt relief resulted in $130 billion in debt cancellation between 2000 and 2015.
Pope Francis appeared in good spirits despite suffering from a cold, though his voice remained slightly raspy. On Christmas Day, he will deliver his traditional Urbi et Orbi (“to the city and the world”) message and blessing.
