Signs of Hope

In Spes Non Confundit, the Bull of Indiction of the Ordinary Jubilee Year 2025, Pope Francis exhorts us to discover hope in the signs of the times. Among these signs are:

First, peace. “Is it too much to dream that arms can fall silent and cease to rain down destruction and death? May the Jubilee remind us that those who are peacemakers will be called “children of God” (Mt 5:9).”

Second, openness to life. “Openness to life and responsible parenthood is the design that the Creator has implanted in the hearts and bodies of men and women, a mission that the Lord has entrusted to spouses and to their love.”

Third, freedom for prisoners. I propose that in this Jubilee Year governments undertake initiatives aimed at restoring hope; forms of amnesty or pardon meant to help individuals regain confidence in themselves and in society; and programmes of reintegration in the community, including a concrete commitment to respect for law.

Fourth, “signs of hope should also be shown to the sick, at home or in hospital. Their sufferings can be allayed by the closeness and affection of those who visit them.”

Fifth, the youth. “We must not disappoint them, for the future depends on their enthusiasm. It is gratifying to see the energy they demonstrate, for example, by rolling up their sleeves and volunteering to help when disasters strike and people are in need.”

Sixth, the migrants. “Exiles, displaced persons and refugees, whom international tensions force to emigrate in order to avoid war, violence and discrimination, ought to be guaranteed security and access to employment and education, the means they need to find their place in a new social context.”

Seventh, the elderly. “Esteem for the treasure that they are, their life experiences, their accumulated wisdom and the contribution that they can still make, is incumbent on the Christian community and civil society, which are called to cooperate in strengthening the covenant between generations.”

Eighth, the poor. “Let us not forget: the poor are almost always the victims, not the ones to blame.”

Look forward with hope for 2025! Respond to these challenges!