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The Jubilee is one of the most significant events of the Catholic Church, both for its religious value and its historical and cultural scope. Originating as a special time of reconciliation and forgiveness, the Jubilee traces its roots to the Old Testament, where every fiftieth year was declared a jubilee, a period of debt remission and liberation of slaves. “You shall consecrate the fiftieth year and proclaim liberty throughout the land to all its inhabitants. It shall be a jubilee for you; each of you is to return to your family property and to your own clan. The fiftieth year shall be a jubilee for you; do not sow and do not reap what grows of itself or harvest the untended vines. For it is a jubilee and is to be holy for you; eat only what is taken directly from the fields. In this Year of Jubilee everyone is to return to their own property,” it is written in Leviticus 25.
Christian tradition adopted and transformed this custom, giving it a deeper spiritual meaning. The first Christian Jubilee was proclaimed by Pope Boniface VIII in 1300 as a time dedicated to conversion, penance, and pilgrimage to Rome.
Since then, the Jubilee has become an extraordinary event, attracting millions of faithful from all over the world to the Eternal City. Generally celebrated every fifty years but often marked by extraordinary occasions, this event represents a moment of unity for Christians and a unique opportunity to rediscover the profound sense of faith.
The Religious Significance
For believers, the Jubilee is a special time of grace, characterized by the opportunity to obtain a plenary indulgence, which is the complete forgiveness of temporal penalties related to sins already confessed and absolved. This spiritual renewal journey includes acts of devotion such as pilgrimage, confession, communion, and prayer for the Pope and the Church.
The symbolism of the Jubilee is closely tied to the idea of a door. The Holy Door, opened in the main basilicas of Rome (St. Peter’s, St. John Lateran, St. Mary Major, and St. Paul Outside the Walls), represents the symbolic entry into the realm of divine grace and forgiveness. Crossing this door is a gesture of great significance, an invitation to leave the past behind and embark on a new path of Christian life.
Rome: The Heart of Christianity
Rome, with its extraordinary historical and spiritual heritage, is the undisputed center of the Jubilee. The city is not only the seat of the Vatican and the Pope but also a place filled with symbols and memories that evoke the millennia-long history of the Church. The basilicas, martyrs, saints, and monuments testify to Rome’s centrality in spreading the Christian message throughout the world.
Defending Rome as the center of Christianity means safeguarding the roots of our Western civilization. Christianity is not just a religion but a fundamental pillar of our cultural and European identity. Its values have shaped the laws, art, philosophy, and society we live in. Denying or neglecting this heritage means questioning the very foundations of our civilization.
Defending Christianity in the Contemporary World
Today more than ever, Christianity is under attack, not only from secularizing ideologies in the West but also through persecution and discrimination in many parts of the world. According to the most recent data, over 360 million Christians live in contexts of persecution, with countries like Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan, and Nigeria among the hardest hit.
In Syria, for instance, the end of Bashar al-Assad’s regime has led to chaos and anarchy in many areas. Images of destroyed crosses, desecrated churches, and looted cemeteries are a grim reminder of the vulnerability of Christians in the Middle East. This region, the cradle of Christianity, is witnessing a dramatic decline in its Christian presence. In Iraq, the Christian community has dwindled from about 1.5 million people before 2003 to less than 300,000 today.
Defending persecuted Christians is not only a duty for believers but also a moral imperative for anyone who cares about human rights and freedom of worship. Additionally, it is a matter of cultural identity: Christianity represents the spiritual roots of Europe and, more broadly, the West. Preserving it means preserving ourselves.
Persecution is not just physical but also cultural. In the West, Christianity is often marginalized, ridiculed, or ignored, and its symbols are removed from public spaces in the name of a misguided neutrality. This attitude threatens to break the generational bond and alienate young people from their spiritual heritage. The Jubilee, with its message of hope and renewal, can reignite interest in the Christian heritage and its importance in building a just and compassionate society.
The Jubilee for Everyone: The Pope’s Example and Prisoners
A particularly touching aspect of the Jubilee is its openness to all categories of people, including the most marginalized. During a recent Jubilee, Pope Francis visited the Rebibbia prison, calling it “the second Basilica after St. Peter’s.” This gesture is a powerful reminder of the Christian mission of mercy and forgiveness.
For inmates, the Jubilee is a moment of hope and rebirth. As conservatives, it is our duty to reflect on the meaning of justice and redemption. Prisons should not only be places of punishment but also spaces for education and recovery. A society that does not believe in the possibility of redemption for its weakest members is a society that has lost its sense of humanity.
Pope Francis reminds us that no one is excluded from God’s mercy. Even in the most challenging situations, such as those experienced by prisoners, there is the possibility of genuine change. This approach, while complex to implement, represents a challenge that we must embrace responsibly.
A Message of Unity
The Jubilee offers a universal message of unity and reconciliation that transcends religious and cultural barriers. In a world divided by conflicts, injustices, and inequalities, this event invites us to rediscover the value of forgiveness, solidarity, and hope. It is no coincidence that the Jubilee has always attracted people from all walks of life and faiths, as its message speaks to the hearts of all.
As conservatives, we must seize the opportunity offered by the Jubilee to reaffirm Christian values in our society. These values are not only religious but universal: human dignity, justice, solidarity, and respect for life are principles that transcend differences of faith and form the foundation of a truly human civilization.
The Jubilee is much more than a religious event: it is a universal call to conversion, mercy, and the defense of Christian values that have shaped our civilization. It challenges us to remember that faith is not merely personal but deeply communal, connecting us to centuries of tradition and culture. By embracing this event, we also embrace the opportunity to heal divisions, reaffirm shared values, and strive for a brighter future that honors the spiritual and cultural legacy we have inherited.In a world where Christianity is increasingly threatened, it is essential to reaffirm the centrality of Rome as the beating heart of faith and Western culture.
Whether or not one believes in the Catholic God, it is undeniable that Christianity represents an essential part of our European identity. Defending its symbols and heritage means defending ourselves and our future. This Jubilee, like all those that preceded it, is an invitation to rediscover our roots, look upon others with mercy, and work towards a more just and compassionate world.