The Roman Catholic Church throughout the world will celebrate a Year of Jubilee in 2025: “Pilgrims of Hope,” as designated by Pope Francis.   

A Holy Year, which is traditionally held every 25 years, provides an opportunity for spiritual conversion for the faithful, who, as pilgrims on earth, are journeying in faith to a future marked by a vision of hope and trust in the Lord.

Throughout history, pilgrims have journeyed to Rome to enter one of the basilicas by walking through the Holy Year Door, the first step in gaining the plenary indulgence attached to the jubilee celebration. For the Great Jubilee 2000, Pope John Paul II expanded this privilege to include designated Holy Year Doors at particularly notable sanctuaries outside of Rome. The Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception was the designated location for the United States in 2000 and again for the Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy in 2016.

In preparation for the upcoming Jubilee Year, the National Holy Year Door of the National Shrine will be sealed and blessed on the First Sunday of Advent (Dec. 3, 2023) at noon by Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio, archbishop of the Military Services, U.S.A. and president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.

Msgr. Walter R. Rossi, rector of the Basilica, said, “To host the National Holy Year Door has been a great privilege for this National Shrine, first granted to us by Saint John Paul II and again by Pope Francis. While it may seem unremarkable on the surface, to walk through a Holy Door is a moment of grace, and the opportunity to do so while entering Mary’s House is a special spiritual experience.”