Insight with Bishop Osei-Bonsu : The Christian, a concrete sign of hope in relation to the Jubilee Year

Question by Frederick Ababio, Catholic Diocese of Jasikan:

My Lord, I would be highly pleased if you could explain “The Christian, a concrete Sign of Hope” in relation to the Jubilee Year 2025.

Answer by Most Rev. Joseph Osei-Bonsu:

The Jubilee Year 2025, officially proclaimed by Pope Francis as the “Jubilee of Hope,” represents a profound moment of spiritual renewal, mercy, and pilgrimage for the Catholic Church. Spanning from 24 December 2024 to 24 December 2025, this Holy Year invites believers across the globe – farmers and labourers, students and educators, clergy and laypeople, leaders and workers of every vocation – to deepen their faith, seek reconciliation, and embrace hope in a world marked by division and uncertainty.

Under the theme “Pilgrims of Hope,”  Pope Francis calls Christians to bear witness to hope amid crises of war, inequality, and environmental degradation. Central to the Jubilee will be the opening of the Holy Door in St. Peter’s Basilica, a powerful symbol of grace, as millions of pilgrims journey to Rome and other sacred sites to receive special indulgences.

Beyond its spiritual significance, the Jubilee carries a strong social dimension, emphasising debt relief for impoverished nations, care for refugees, and interfaith dialogue. Historically, Jubilees date back to 1300 and are traditionally celebrated every 25 or 50 years.

The choice of 2025 holds added resonance, marking the 1,700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea (325 AD), a pivotal moment in Christian history. Through prayer, pilgrimage, and acts of charity, this Jubilee seeks to rekindle faith, unity, and compassion in an increasingly fractured world.

It is against this backdrop that we approach the question put by Frederick Ababio.  As we celebrate the Jubilee Year 2025, with the theme “Pilgrims of Hope”, the Church is inviting all of us – parents, workers, students, teachers, seminarians, priests, bishops, health professionals, civil servants, market women, drivers, lawyers, judges, politicians, and traditional leaders – to rediscover what Christian hope truly means. In today’s world, filled with problems like war, fear, and uncertainty, we are reminded that being a Christian means being a real sign of hope to others – not just in words, but in the way we live.

Hope is not just wishing for things to get better. As Pope Francis says, real hope means being humble and taking action.  It means moving forward even when life is hard because we trust in God’s promises. This Jubilee is a special time for us to show God’s love and mercy through small but powerful acts – like forgiving others, helping those in need, standing up for justice, and bringing peace wherever we go.

To farmers and labourers, your daily toil feeds nations and builds societies. When you work with integrity and fairness, you become instruments of God’s providence. To students and educators in schools, colleges, and universities, your pursuit of knowledge and truth plants seeds for a better future. To politicians and traditional rulers, your leadership can either bring division or healing – this Jubilee calls you to govern with wisdom, justice, and compassion.

To lawyers and judges, you are guardians of justice in a broken world. Your commitment to truth and equity can restore hope where corruption and oppression thrive. To drivers and transport workers, your service keeps communities connected – may you carry not just passengers but also kindness and patience on every journey.

To families – fathers, mothers, husbands, and wives – you show hope through love, patience, and faithfulness. In a time when family life is often challenged, your example of unity and support is a beacon for the next generation. To health workers – doctors, nurses, and caregivers – your compassion for the sick and suffering reminds us that every life is sacred.

To all members of the Church – lay faithful, religious, deacons, priests, and bishops – our shared mission is to build unity and show God’s mercy. This Jubilee reminds us that we are not meant to watch from the sidelines but to act. Every time we feed the hungry, comfort the hurting, forgive those who wrong us, or defend the voiceless, we show the world what Christian hope looks like.

This hope has a face – your face and mine – when we live like Christ. Whether at home, in school, at work, in courtrooms, or on the streets, we are called to be pilgrims of hope, bringing a little bit of heaven to earth. As we celebrate the Jubilee Year 2025, let us move forward with courage and joy, so that through our lives, others may see that Christ’s love is alive – and his hope lives in us.