(ZENIT News / Rome, 29.04.2024).- At 5:30 pm on Thursday, May 9, 2024, in Saint Peter’s Basilica, Pope Francis will preside over the handing and reading of the Bull making known the exact date of the start and conclusion of the Jubilee 2025. The ceremony will take place in the context of the Second Vespers of the Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord.
According to the specialized Papal Liturgy site, it is customary that on the day of the Ascension of the previous year to a Jubilee, the Pope signs a Bull proclaiming the Holy Year, in which he indicates the date of its start and its end.
Bulls are identified by their first Latin words. For example, Saint John Paul II convoked the Great Jubilee of the Year 2000 with the Bull “Incarnationis Mysterium” (“The Mystery of the Incarnation”), whereas Pope Francis convoked the Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy (2015-2016) with the Bull “Misericordiae Vultus” (“The Face of Mercy”).
Those documents are called “Bulls” because they have a lead seal with the image of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul. The Bull or seal was joined to the document by a ribbon. Beginning in the 13th century, the term Bull no longer made reference to the seal to describe the document itself. Later, in the 15th century, the use of the name “Bull” was reserved solely for papal documents referring to the concession of graces.
The Bulls begin with the name of the Pope (without the numeral), followed by his dignity of Episcopus (Bishop) and the title Servus Servorum Dei (Servant of the Servants of God). For example, in the case of the current Pope it is Franciscus, Episcopus, Servum Servorum Dei.
In Epiphany of 2024 the announcement was made of the year’s movable feasts. One of them is that of the Ascension, which this year is celebrated on May 9 (or May 12, where it is transferred).
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