On 06 January 2026 the Holy Door in the Vatican closes. This ends a year of “Pilgrims of Hope”. It will remain closed for another 25 years. Who knows what the world will look like when that passage opens again?
Every generation puts its own stamp on history, on the world and on the church. In the Book of Leviticus the idea of a jubilee year is described as an opportunity for a new generation to start with a clean slate. Financial debts should be forgiven and wrongdoing settled and pardoned.
In the Holy Jubilee year 2000, this led to the start of the Millennium Goals. Those born in that year will be 50 when the Holy Door opens again. They will remember the outcome of current wars and invent their own ways of conflict management. The ethical and moral principles for the wellbeing of mankind have not changed much since Leviticus was written 3000 years ago. The sanctity of life is shown in our love for our neighbor, for ourselves and for God. The wellbeing of our planet and fair global political and economic systems depend on this.
Religious and secular world leaders come and go, but how many of them open doors to allow people fair passage?
Every generation has its own hierarchy of priorities to protect its own survival. A Holy Door reminds us of the fact that we are all part of something eternal and bigger than our own truth or historical trends. We build on the legacy of faith and values from our ancestors, and we have our own responsibility towards future generations. As custodians of the present time, we add a page to the writing of history. We choose what side of history we want to be on.
Heroes are created and remembered for big and small choices. What the Holy Year 2025 asked from us was to be a “Pilgrim of Hope”. This journey never grows old. Hope has many origins and destinations. Somewhere in between, we choose our fellow travelers. When we feel that life goes too fast and that it is hard to keep up with all the latest developments, it is good to take one year for every generation to reflect on, plan and celebrate the things that give hope for the future.
Most likely I will not be around for the opening of the Holy Year in 2050, but I pray that I still have some time for creating hope during my moment in history (His-Story). In doing so I am always amazed and grateful for the many people that I meet on that pilgrimage who do the same. May meeting each other in the doing of good, strengthen that hope for our and the new generation.
Fr. Sjaak