Jubilees in History

All the Jubilees

1300 - Boniface VIII

Pope Boniface VIII (1294-1303) utilized indulgences for the first Jubilee, which lasted a year and concluded on December 24, 1300. The primary locations for this Jubilee were the basilicas of Saint Peter and Saint Paul outside the walls.

1350 - Clement VI

This Jubilee, the first to be named as such, occurred with the Pope residing away from Rome, in Avignon. Clement VI (1342-1352) issued it, halving the traditional century term and drawing not only on Church custom but also on Jewish and biblical traditions for the fifty-year intervals. The duration mirrored that of the previous Jubilee, but the venues expanded to include the Basilica of Saint John Lateran.

1390 - Urban VI - Boniface IX

This marked the first Jubilee instituted by a Pope, Urban VI (1378-1389), with a different pope, Boniface IX (1389-1404), reigning during the Jubilee year. Gregory XI (1370-1378) had previously expanded the Jubilee venues to incorporate the St. Mary Major Basilica. The novelty of this Jubilee lay in its timing; Boniface IX affirmed Urban VI's introduction of a 33-year interval between each Jubilee.

1400 - Boniface IX

Unique until the 20th century, this was the first Jubilee celebrated by the same Pontiff who reigned during the previous Jubilee year, and notably proclaimed without a papal bull for the first time. It publicly recognized the pilgrims, dubbed "Bianchi" (Whites) due to their distinctive attire, journeying to Rome from various parts of Europe.

1423 - Martin V

While the 1400 Jubilee had reaffirmed the hundred- and fifty-year cycles, the 1423 Jubilee reiterated the thirty-three-year rule. This Jubilee is remembered for the inaugural opening of an unspecified "Golden Gate," anticipated as a precursor to, or even a historical basis for, the ceremonies of the Holy Door.

1450 - Nicholas V

This Jubilee is notable for the opening of the Golden Door at Saint Peter's, an event so symbolically resonant that the Jubilee was referred to as the Golden Year.

1450 - Paul II - Sixtus IV

Times and places underwent profound recalibration during the Jubilee of Sixtus IV (1471-1484). He first established the new "time," defining the 25-year interval between one Jubilee and the next, and he termed the event as "Jubilee," directly borrowing from the classic biblical and Hebrew expressions. The Jubilee period was then extended until Easter of 1476. The "spaces" of the Jubilee became the focus of the urban policy of the new Pontiff: bridges - including the renowned Sixtus Bridge (Ponte Sisto) - roads, squares, aqueducts, churches, and palaces.

1500 - Alexander VI

Alexander VI (1492-1503) introduced profound innovations. He extended the Jubilee period until the Epiphany of the following year. A notably novel element was the extension of the Jubilee indulgence to all nations for the subsequent year. Time during the Jubilee year was also marked in new ways: the tolling of bells for the Angelus prayer. Additionally, Jubilee rites were defined. A ritual was established which remains in use to this day, including the opening of the Holy Doors, the processions, the invocations, and the entire liturgical apparatus, all of which will continue to be preserved in future Jubilees. Hence, the construction of the Holy Door. From this Jubilee year forward, the terms "Holy Door" and "Holy Year" are lexically synonymous with "Jubilee."

1525 - Clement VII

Clement VII (1523-1534) enhanced the Jubilee ritual established by Alexander VI, not only through the use of a golden hammer - for the opening of the Holy Year, which would later become silver under his successors - but also by instituting a proper liturgy for the closing of the Holy Door.

1550 - Paul III - Julius III

The Jubilee decreed by Paul III (1534-1549) and initiated by Julius III (1550-1555) significantly impacted canon law. The timing was crucial; Christmas Eve occurred during the period of sede vacante (when the papal seat is vacant). Consequently, Julius III, while proceeding with the opening of the Holy Door on February 24, decided to retrospectively mark the start of the Jubilee period from Christmas Eve 1549. In addition to this retrospective element, Julius III extended the Jubilee until the Epiphany of 1551 and broadened the indulgence to the subsequent year.

1575 - Gregory XIII

During the Jubilee, Pope Gregory XIII (1572-1585) personally and repeatedly visited not only the four basilicas but also the churches of St. Lawrence outside the walls, St. sebastian "ad catacumbas" and Holy Cross in jerusalem. This formed an expansion of the custom of the "seven churches" to the "nine churches," incorporating the church of St Paul at the Three Fountains and that St. Mary Annunziata. The Pope and his entourage's ascent of the Holy Stairs on their knees is a notable memory.

1600 - Clement VIII

The Jubilee of Clement VIII (1592-1605) commenced on December 31, 1599, and concluded on January 13, 1601, with the indulgence extended to the following year.

1625 - Urban VIII

Urban VIII (1623-1644) confirmed the traditional timing of the Jubilee and imparted new significance to the urban landscape, which - thanks to significant urban planning and artistic enhancements - appeared truly impressive to pilgrims arriving in Rome. St. Peter's Basilica, which the Pope would officially inaugurate in the following year of 1626, was at last completed. This Jubilee marked the beginning of the established practice of granting indulgences without requiring pilgrims to travel to Rome, applicable to specific personal statuses such as the sick, the imprisoned, and religious members of certain orders. Urban VIII personally supervised the consecration of the Holy Door of St. Mary in Trastevere Basilica, designated as an alternate site during certain times of the year due to security concerns, substituting for the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls where the risk of plague was higher.

1650 - Innocent X

Innocent X (1644-1655) confirmed and strengthened his predecessors' decisions regarding the timing and locations of the Jubilee in a Holy Year that surpassed its predecessors and successors as the epitome of Baroque Rome in art, music, and fashion.

1675 - Clement X

Clement X (1670-1676) convened and celebrated the Jubilee in accordance with the era and milieu of Baroque Rome.

1700 - Innocent XII - Clement XI

The Jubilee of 1700 stands as a unique occurrence in Church history, beginning with Innocent XII (1691-1700) and concluding with Clement XI (1700-1721), amidst an intervening sede vacante (Vacancy of the Holy See). During this Holy Year, as the Tiber River flooded, the Basilica of Santa Maria in Trastevere was used instead of St. Paul Outside the Walls for the Jubilee itineraries.

1725 - Benedict XIII

Benedict XIII (1724-1730) was unable to initiate the Jubilee on Ascension Day due to the ongoing conclave that had yet to elect him. This Holy Year set a nearly unique precedent in Jubilee history. The Pope initiated the Roman Provincial Council on April 15, 1725, in the Basilica of St. John Lateran - resembling a synod - and concluded it with a solemn procession to the Holy Cross in Jerusalem Basilica on the following 29 May, the anniversary of his election. This is the sole instance of a synod, albeit broadly defined, that was initiated and concluded within the Jubilee's designated period.

1750 - Benedict XIV

Benedict XIV (1740-1758) upheld traditional Jubilee practices and additionally mandated the Eucharist as a requisite for gaining indulgence. The Pope repeatedly and explicitly referenced Rome as the heart of Christianity. It is noteworthy to recall the extraordinary illumination of St. Peter’s dome and colonnade during the feast of Saints Peter and Paul on June 29.

1775 - Clement XIV - Pius VI

After Clement XIV convened the Jubilee, he was succeeded by Pius VI (1775-1795) who, following the precedent set in 1550, opened the Holy Door belatedly on February 26, 1775.

1800 - Pius VII

Pius VI, who died in France where he had been taken captive, was unable to declare the 1800 Jubilee, and his successor Pius VII (1800-1823), elected in Venice, limited himself to granting – outside the typical jubilee tradition – a two-week period for the plenary indulgence.

1825 - Leo XII

The “first” Jubilee of the 19th century was actually the “last” in the classical sense. Leo XII (1823-1829) observed it according to traditional canons, notably reaffirming the decisions made by Benedict XIV regarding the Eucharistic prescription and affirming Rome as the focal point of Christendom.

1875 - Pius IX

Omitting the Jubilee year of 1850 – which did not occur as the Pope was still away from Rome, initially at Gaeta – Pius IX (1846-1878) extended the 1875 Jubilee to the dioceses, since his status as a "prisoner in the Vatican," following the capture of Rome and the proclamation of the city as the capital of Italy, prevented the opening of the Holy Door.

1900 - Leo XIII

Leo XIII (1878-1903) did not leave the Vatican and, while upholding the traditional aspects of the jubilee, particularly in terms of its time constraints, aimed to transcend the city's physical limitations by assigning a theme to the Holy Year. This year was not marked by the chronology of a centenary but was instead dedicated to the Blessed Sacrament, which was exhibited simultaneously in Catholic churches worldwide.

1925 - Pius XI

Pius XI (1922-1939) broadened the jubilee times and spaces, aiming to open new paths rather than confine them within fortresses. This vision was exemplified by his departure from the Vatican to visit the Bishop of Rome's residence, the Basilica of St. John Lateran.

1933 - Pius XI

Pius XI associated the jubilee not with the traditional twenty-five-year cycle or a specific theme, but with the commemoration of 1900 years of Redemption, hence it was deemed extraordinary. Accordingly, it began on Palm Sunday and concluded on Easter Monday.

1950 - Pius XII

Pius XII (1939 - 1958) readjusted the traditional requirements of the jubilee pilgrimage, stipulating a single visit per basilica and specifying the prayers required for indulgence. Defined as a "maximum" event, this Jubilee was the Church's first "global" occurrence post-World War II, marked by symbols and testimonials that reflected a desire to rediscover and redeem a wounded humanity.

1975 - Paul VI

Paul VI (1963-1978) adhered to the twenty-five year interval. It was the first Jubilee following the Second Vatican Council. The alignment with the Council's themes of renewal and reconciliation made this Jubilee an opportune moment to evolve the Holy Year into an “ecumenical Jubilee”.

1983 - John Paul II

The extraordinary Jubilee of Saint John Paul II (1978-2005), commemorating 1950 years since the Redemption, adhered to the precedents set by Paul VI for the 1975 jubilee. This jubilee was directly preceded by the extraordinary Holy Year declared by Pius XI in 1933. However, unlike the latter, the opening of the Holy Door of Saint Peter's coincided with the Feast of the Annunciation on March 25, 1983, and concluded on Easter Sunday, April 22, 1984.

2000 - John Paul II

The millennial Jubilee of Saint John Paul II was heralded as the "Great Jubilee." Following tradition, the Holy Door of Saint Peter's was opened on Christmas Eve 1999 and, in line with previous instances, was closed on the Epiphany of 2001. The Pope opened all the Holy Doors.

2015 - Francis

Pope Francis (2013), in marking the fiftieth anniversary of the conclusion of the Second Vatican Council, highlighted its central theme as the "mercy of the Father."