2025: A Year of Hope

Dear friend,

Last Christmas, I had the opportunity to meet Erik (not his real name), a young German man who, deeply affected by life’s hardships and feeling distant from his Christian faith, had decided to embark on a pilgrimage from his hometown of Ulm to Padua, the city of Saint Anthony. Through this journey, he hoped to rediscover meaning in his life. Along the way, Erik met other pilgrims, each with their own story yet all united by a common goal: reaching the Basilica of Saint Anthony. What had begun as a physical journey soon evolved into an inner pilgrimage filled with deep reflections, fervent prayers, and profound silences.

Erik shared with me how he found comfort in simple acts of kindness from his fellow travelers – small gestures that reflected a shared desire for peace and friendship. These moments helped him realize that his journey was not only personal, but also part of something greater. He saw that peace often arises from the small, everyday acts of support and understanding that we offer one another as fellow travelers through life. When Erik finally reached the Basilica, he found not only a friend in Saint Anthony, but also renewed inner peace and long-lost hope.

Just as Erik’s pilgrimage to Padua became a search for meaning and renewal, so too does the newly begun Jubilee offer us an extraordinary opportunity for reflection and spiritual rebirth. In a world increasingly marked by crisis and conflict, Pope Francis’ call to become Pilgrims of Hope resonates with both urgency and strength. In this light, hope is not simply a personal virtue cultivated in solitude; it is a dynamic force that challenges the pessimism and resignation that so often cloud our days. Being pilgrims means not only setting out on a physical journey, but also confronting daily struggles with courage and trust, believing that even the most uncertain or distant destination will ultimately reward each step and sacrifice.

This call to hope is deeply linked to humanity’s profound longing for peace. Today’s world bears the scars of devastating conflicts, forced migrations, and political tensions that resist quick solutions. Amid such uncertainty, the Jubilee theme serves as a moral compass, guiding us toward a future of peace and reconciliation. In fact, being Pilgrims of Hope also means becoming peacemakers, committed to building bridges between nations and individuals, and rejecting violence as a way of resolving conflicts. In this spirit, the 2025 Jubilee offers a unique occasion, not only for believers, but for all of humanity, to affirm peace as an urgent, shared goal for our world.

Pilgrimage is often a shared journey, with each person supporting others along the way. This spirit of true solidarity should guide our spiritual and moral journey, helping us see in others not only fellow travelers, but individuals who, like us, seek hope, peace, and reconciliation. In the face of war, social injustice, and division, the Church calls us to envision a world where dialogue replaces conflict and understanding overcomes hostility. True peace is rarely achieved through grand gestures alone; rather, it flourishes through small, daily acts of openness and kindness that each of us can offer.

Let’s therefore begin 2025 as true Pilgrims of Hope, carrying within us a light strong enough to dispel the shadows of hatred and indifference. May this new year mark the beginning of a journey toward a brighter world, guided by peace and filled by hope.

On behalf of all the friars of St. Anthony’s Basilica, I extend to you and your loved ones our warmest wishes for a 2025 filled with hope, peace, and spiritual renewal, inspired by the light of the Jubilee.

Happy New Year!