In This Year of Jubilee

The biblical book of Leviticus describes in chapter 25 the society that the people of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (or Israel) were to form when they reached the land promised to their forebears. Each family group was to be allotted a non-transferable plot of land; it could be leased but not sold. The land was to be cultivated for six years and left to rest in the seventh year, known as Shemitah. After seven cycles of Shemitah, or in the fiftieth year, the Jubilee Year or Yovel occurred.

In that year, all plots of land were to be returned to their original owners and any leases would expire. As stated in Leviticus 25:10: “And you shall hallow the fiftieth year, and you shall proclaim liberty throughout the land to all its inhabitants. It shall be a jubilee for you: you shall return, every one of you, to your property and every one of you to your family.” 

This system aimed to prevent the emergence of large estates, which often relied on cheap labor or slavery, and also to promote care for the earth. Indeed, in Leviticus 25 the themes of environmental stewardship and social justice intertwine regarding the Jubilee Year. When Pope Francis and I discussed these topics during his time as Archbishop of Buenos Aires, we frequently referenced Leviticus 25.

According to Leviticus 25:9, the Jubilee Year was to be declared on the tenth day of the month of Tishrei, which coincides with Yom Kippur (the Day of Atonement). The announcement of the Jubilee was to be made by blowing a ram's horn (shofar) to signify its beginning and to proclaim the liberation of slaves and the sanctity of that year.

In Hebrew, yovel means ram, which can be understood from the references in Joshua 6:4-5 to be associated with the shofar. In fact, yovel has become equivalent with shofar, a loud blast of which accompanied the revelation of God at Sinai and the giving of the Torah (Exodus 19:19). The presence of synonymous words—Yovel / Shofar—in the regulations of the Jubilee Year and in the account of the giving of the Torah suggests a parallel between the two. Yom Kippur is a significant and unique moment in the Hebrew calendar, marking a time when God forgives the transgressions of the people, who, by their repentance, turn back to God. It is through God's forgiveness that individuals find purification, achieved after reconciling with those they have offended, mistreated, or harmed. The Jubilee points to a society of justice and respect for God's work, essential elements of the teachings (Torah) revealed by God at Sinai, which constantly challenge us. The voice of the Yovel / Shofar still claims our human attention.

The Catholic Church, which of course holds the Book of Leviticus to be canonical scripture in its “Old Testament,” adapted the practice of observing Jubilee Years beginning in 1300 under Pope Boniface VIII. In modern times, the church marks an ordinary Jubilee Year every 25 years.  Therefore, on Christmas Eve 2024, Pope Francis ceremonially commenced the current Catholic Jubilee Year which has the theme “Pilgrims of Hope.” Echoing Jewish spiritual feelings on Yom Kippur, Francis stated that the Catholic Jubilee Year “is a summons not to tarry, to be kept back by our old habits, or to wallow in mediocrity or laziness.” Rather, he said, Catholics should be “pilgrims of light amid the darkness of this world.”

What might this mean in our world today, a fractured world where tensions, fanaticism, hatred, and irrationality dominate? Wars provoke uncontrolled passions that cloud judgment, disrupting the balance needed for thoughtful action and evaluation. Values such as mercy, common sense, justice, and spirituality are dramatically diminished. So-called leaders and social commentators often selfishly heighten tensions and violence instead of seeking solidarity and understanding. The channels of dialogue between peoples, cultures, and religions have been severely damaged, but Jews and Christians cannot allow them to be yet further victims among the countless others afflicted by conflict.

The Jubilee of Hope celebrated this year by the Catholic community can serve as a valuable source of inspiration for reconciliation among people everywhere. As Pope Francis has said of the Catholic faithful, the Jubilee "calls us to spiritual renewal and commits us to the transformation of our world, so that this year may truly become a time of jubilation."

May these reflections be a prayer for world peace and for the recovery of Pope Francis, who tirelessly delivers his message of shalom and understanding, even under difficult conditions.

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Abraham Skorka, Georgetown University, Washington D.C.

Article published in the Italian edition of L'Osservatore Romano 17/04/2025