Jubilee Year: Hope Does Not DisappointRead Time 9 min

Advent is a season with a two-fold character. It is a time of preparation for the Christmas celebrations, remembering Christ’s first coming into this world through the mystery of the Incarnation. It is a time of joyful expectation as we await Christ’s second coming at the end of time, as well. It is a season of hope and a time of active preparation for the coming of the Lord.

As Christians, we eagerly await the second coming of Christ, when the work that he began on Earth through his life, teaching, healing, Passion, Death and Resurrection will be fulfilled. We await his coming not passively but actively in our works of charity and justice, and in our lives of prayer and worship. During this Advent season, we place our hope in the fulfillment of God’s promise.

On May 9, 2024, Pope Francis issued the papal bull “Spes Non Confundit,” which means “Hope Does Not Disappoint.” With this papal bull, Pope Francis declared 2025 as a Year of Jubilee, which will begin officially with the opening of the Holy Door of St. Peter’s Basilica on Christmas Eve of 2024.

Pope Francis writes, “Everyone knows what it is to hope. In the heart of each person, hope dwells as the desire and expectation of good things to come, despite our not knowing what the future may bring.” While he acknowledges this as true, he also notes that uncertainty about the future can bring about anxiety, hesitation and doubt. (Spes Non Confundit, 1.)

As a means of encouragement amid uncertainty, Pope Francis quotes St. Paul: “Since we are justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have obtained access to this grace in which we stand; and we boast in our hope of sharing in the glory of God. … Hope does not disappoint, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.” (Romans 5:1-2,5) (Spes Non Confundit, 2.)

Pope Francis calls upon the Christian community to recognize the signs of hope that exist in the world and to show signs of hope to those in need. He writes, “We need to recognize the immense goodness in our world, lest we be tempted to think ourselves overwhelmed by evil and violence. The signs of the times, which include the yearning of human hearts in need of God’s saving presence, ought to become signs of hope.” (Spes Non Confundit,7.)

The Holy Father, echoing the documents of the Second Vatican Council, states that the Church must read the signs of the times and interpret them in the light of the Good News of Jesus Christ. He encourages us to recognize and engage the desire for peace and enthusiasm for life as signs of hope, and to be signs of hope for the imprisoned, the sick, the young, the migrants, the elderly and the poor. He further elaborates on these themes in this document. (Spes Non Confundit, 8-15.)

Peace: The world today is urgently in need of peacemakers. Pope Francis calls upon world leaders to hear the desperate pleas of those subjected to violence and brutality and to strive to resolve regional conflicts before they escalate. He stresses the need for diplomacy, courage and creativity to negotiate a lasting peace.

Enthusiasm for life: The Church must be willing to encourage young couples to be open to life and responsible parenthood. The faithful must be in the forefront supporting efforts to foster hope among young couples, that they might understand the value of raising children, seeing them as the fruitfulness of their love.

The imprisoned: Pope Francis challenges us to encourage our government representatives to support programs that aim to rehabilitate prisoners and reintegrate them into society. Pastors and their flocks must be unified in their efforts in demanding dignified conditions for the incarcerated and respect for their human rights.

The sick: Visiting the sick and being supportive of health care workers are works of mercy that can greatly help allay suffering. Special attention must be given to those whose disabilities restrict their freedom and personal independence.

The young: Members of the Church are called to make greater efforts to reach out to adolescents and youth, who too often find themselves discouraged and without hope. The Church must renew efforts to engage young people, who are the source of joy and hope for both Church and society.

The migrants: Christians must be ready to defend the rights of migrants who are searching for a better future. Exiles and refugees forced to emigrate to avoid war, violence and oppression should be guaranteed welcome, security and the means to find a place in a new social context.

The elderly: We are called to appreciate the wisdom of the elderly and recognize the contribution they can make to society. The Christian community and civil society are called to cooperate in strengthening the bonds between the generations.

The poor: We must all be willing to sacrifice to help the needs of those who struggle with poverty. We are called to be signs of hope for the poor, who often lack the essentials of life. We must not add to the indifference and exclusion that they encounter but seek ways to give them relief and hope.

As we prepare ourselves for the coming Year of Jubilee, let us pray for inspiration to discern how we can be living signs of hope for others. Let us use our gifts and talents to show the world that there is a reason to hope. Hope does not disappoint.