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 13^th century, the term Bull no longer made reference to the seal to describe the document itself. Later, in the 15^th 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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The Canadian Church has chosen to delve deeper into the themes highlighted in the “Notes on Prayer” series, produced by the Dicastery for Evangelization’s Section for Fundamental Questions of Evangelization in the World.

The webinars will be available in English and French: the first four in English will be held in April, and the second series of four in October 2024. The English language series, which will begin on 2 April, is entitled, “A Great Symphony of Prayer: The Our Father as a Program of Life.”

The first series of French language webinars will be held in May, with the second group of webinars following in October 2024.

The meetings will be recorded and made available, with a commentary, on the website of the Canadian Episcopal Conference www.cccb.ca at the end of the series.

You can register for the four April webinars in English here : https://cccb-ca.zoom.us/webinar/register/2317107825795/WN_E7HPS7PeQAOXnuBjILt9Qg#/registration

Webinar program in English:

– Tuesday, April 2 (1:00 – 2:30 pm EDT): “Why did Jesus address God as Father?”

– Tuesday, April 9 (1:00 – 2:30 pm EDT): “Seeking God’s Kingdom and Knowing God’s Will”

– Tuesday, April 23 (1:00 – 2:30 pm EDT): “Daily Bread and the Gift of Forgiveness”

– Tuesday, April 30 (1:00 – 2:30 pm EDT): “Managing Trials and Resisting Evil Fall Series on Prayer”

– Thursday, October 3 (1:00 – 2:30 pm EDT): “Praying with Mary/The Rosary”

– Thursday, October 10 (1:00 – 2:30 pm EDT): “Praying with the Saints/St. Teresa of Avila”

– Thursday, October 17 (1:00 – 2:30 pm EDT): “The Prayer of Jesus/John 17”

– Thursday, October 24 (1:00 – 2:30 pm EDT): “Lectio Divina/The Storm at Sea”.

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“It was a very nice meeting,” said Monsignor Salera. “The presence of the chaplains of the Rebibbia prison led the conversation to the topic of the inmates’ conditions of penury. Several times we returned [to the topic] of the extreme poverty and deterioration that is often found among the prisoners; how much, during the period of detention, work and all that can give dignity is useful for an effective recovery. We also touched upon the subject of the presence of women in the formation of priests, and we also talked about mercy. Ample time was given to the Jubilee journey. The Pope asked the parish communities for “courage and creativity” — his own words — to address the Holy Year, and to also use the Jubilee time to propose new ways. The meeting unfolded in an atmosphere of joy and serenity.”

The Pontiff and priests talked in the parish theatre of Sant’Enrico parish, built 25 years ago, also in a neighbourhood of recent construction, as recounted by the parish priest, Father Massimiliano Memma, who has headed the community of some 10,000 faithful for 12 years. “Casal Monastero is a peripheral zone, beyond the Grande Raccordo Anulare [the A90 highway], surrounded by countryside. People live here who take three or four hours on public transport to go to and return from work.” It’s a neighbourhood where social ties are strong and where the parish “is the only center of both religious as well as [social] aggregation,” continued the priest. “Those that live in the community really feel part of something greater; Caritas is here, which works very well; there are many groups of young people and a good presence of scouts.” In regard to the meeting with the Holy Father, Fr Memma said: “It’s always good to feel encouraged. It’s nice to hear a word of hope from your Bishop, it did us good. We know Pope Francis, it’s his style and it’s what we need.”

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In fulfilment of this task, as indicated by the chirograph of February 2, 2023, in its first year of existence, the CeAF-LS undertook to develop the Borgo Laudato Si’ project, with the aim of making the principles set out in the Holy Father’s 2015 Encyclical Laudato Si’ on the environment applicable, taken up even more explicitly in the Pope’s Apostolic Exhortation Laudatem Deum, published last October.

The CeAF-LS, assisted by top-level national and international experts, outlined first of all the three main guidelines of the “Borgo Laudato Si’” project: education in integral ecology, the circular and generative economy, and environmental sustainability.

The project covers 55 hectares of extraterritorial area at Castel Gandolfo, divided into 35 hectares of beautiful gardens and 20 hectares of agricultural and livestock land, greenhouses and service buildings. The actual takeover of the entire perimeter by CeAF-LS took place on January 15, 2024, and the staff previously employed on the 55 hectares were transferred to CeAF-LS. Work was carried out in cooperation and dialogue with the Governorate of Vatican City State and the Directorates concerned.

The implementation of this first project is planned in two major phases. The first phase concerns the garden area, and the second , the agricultural and zootechnical area. As far as the first phase is concerned, the project is built on the wonderful natural, historical, artistic heritage of the Papal Villas, 35 hectares of beauty. The activities which already started in recent days, concern, primarily, the conservation, maintenance and care of the heritage entrusted to the CeAF-LS, which is committed to protecting and developing it while also using new techniques and technological innovations, to preserve better the inestimable richness of the site and its integrity for the future generations.

In this privileged framework, soon a series of formative activities will begin, all of them inscribable in the epigraph of education for an integral ecology.

In the first place, continuity will be given to the opening of the gardens to public visits, activity which already began in previous years to fulfil the Holy Father’s wish to open his House to all. The fundamental idea is to offer visitors the opportunity to combine centuries of history, a unique natural and artistic beauty and an immersive Laudato Si’ itinerary in a unique experience. The visitors will be able to know the principles of the Laudato Si’ Encyclical, experiencing their implementation in a territory, thus acquiring an existential awareness that can promote a true ecological conversion. Great importance is given to the inclusivity of these walking trails, so that the more vulnerable groups can have access to them.

In the second place, job training courses will begin, initially in the areas of maintenance of green zones, pruning, gardening and arboriculture. The formation courses will be addressed especially to vulnerable people: immigrants, refugees, unaccompanied minors, women survivors of violence, young people, unemployed adults, individuals with different capacities and former inmates. All courses of professional formation will include job insertion and personal accompaniment during the first year of employment.

In the third place, formation activities will be organized for children and young people diversified according to age, all of them focused on integral ecology. For the littlest ones – primary and secondary school children — and baccalaureate, guided visits and educational moments will be offered, with the possibility of engaging in activities and workshops adapted to their age. Summer schools, formation courses  and days of reflection on the topics of Laudato Si’ will be offered for University students in collaboration with the Universities.

In the fourth place, in response to an emerging need, courses, seminars and retreats will be offered, on essential topics of Laudato Si’, to businessmen and business technicians. In fact, many of them, regardless of their religious faith, have expressed interest in reflecting further on the recommendations and suggestions contained in the Encyclical, in view to a possible implementation in their business contexts.

The second phase, to be launched in the second half of 2024, covers 25 hectares of agricultural and zootechnical area. Some preparatory activities are already being carried out in this area, with a view to a reorganization and development of the production activities, which for years have characterized  the papal farms of Albano. In order that the project be more sustainable, the CeAF-LS is developing a model of circular economy based on sharing, reusing, repairing, reconditioning and recycling. Part of the project is the creation of an energy community based on renewable sources. Great importance will be given in all the activities to the preservation of the biodiversity and the harmonious interaction between human beings and nature.

A real Borgo Laudato Si’ should be ready for the Jubilee, a place of total immersion in the integral ecology promoted by Pope Francis, a place in which to learn and touch the rudiments of the custody of Creation.

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«Pilgrims of hope, on the way of peace» is the theme of the Jubilee for Consecrated Life to be held in  Rome on October 8 – 9, 2025. Consecrated men and women want to reflect on the great need for  peace, so urgent in our time. This is a response to Pope Francis’ invitation to create through the  Jubilee journey a climate of hope and trust as a sign of rebirth, which all humanity desires.

«Dearest consecrated men and women, let us immediately enter this pilgrimage together, bringing  the true hope that is in our hearts and for which our lives are in service», said Card. João Braz de  Aviz, prefect of the Dicastery for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life.

The program will be developed through four major themes: Feb. 1: «Believing in Hope»; Feb. 2:  «Growing in Charity»; Feb. 3, «With the Strength of Faith»; and Feb. 4, «Witnessing to Hope». To  enrich the dialogue, a number of representatives of the Roman Curia’s Dicasteries will also be present  including Fr. Paulin Batairwa Kubuya, SX, Subsecretary of the Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue,  Sr. Alessandra Smerilli, F.M.A., Secretary of the Dicastery for the Service of Integral Human  Development.

The jubilee is an event of great spiritual, social and ecclesial significance, an important time when  God’s people ask to experience God’s forgiveness and mercy. Jubilees throughout Church history  have marked, like milestones, the ecclesial journey. Consecrated men and women are also called to  be witnesses and prophets of hope and peace, particularly on the occasion of the upcoming jubilee.

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In this context, Pope Francis declared the “Year of Prayer” begun on that same Sunday, January 21, 2024: “This is why we begin today the Year of Prayer, a year dedicated to rediscovering the great value and absolute necessity of prayer in personal life, in the life of the Church and in the world.” To help us live this period, the Pope said, “We will also be helped by the aids that the Dicastery for Evangelization will make available to us”. The Dicastery for Evangelization has already advanced that a series of books of “Notes on Prayer” will be published (they will be presented on January 23 in the Press Room of the Holy See).

Already in the letter addressed by Pope Francis to the pro-prefect of the Dicastery for Evangelization, Monsignor Rino Fischella, the Pope had already referred to this matter:

In this time of preparation, I would greatly desire that we devote 2024, the year preceding the Jubilee event, to a great “symphony” of prayer. Prayer, above all else, to renew our desire to be in the presence of the Lord, to listen to him and to adore him. Prayer, moreover, to thank God for the many gifts of his love for us and to praise his work in creation, which summons everyone to respect it and to take concrete and responsible steps to protect it. Prayer as the expression of a single “heart and soul” (cf. Acts 4:32), which then translates into solidarity and the sharing of our daily bread. Prayer that makes it possible for every man and woman in this world to turn to the one God and to reveal to him what lies hidden in the depths of their heart. Prayer as the royal road to holiness, which enables us to be contemplative even in the midst of activity. In a word, may it be an intense year of prayer in which hearts are opened to receive the outpouring of God’s grace and to make the “Our Father,” the prayer Jesus taught us, the life programme of each of his disciples.

It is foreseeable that the day of the liturgical Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord (which this year 2023 will be celebrated on May 9 – or 12 if it is moved to Sunday) will be announced on the day of the opening of the Holy Door with what it implies as start day of the Jubilee. It is customary that on the Solemnity of the Ascension the Popes sign the Bulls proclaiming the Holy Year, indicating in them the beginning day and the ending day.

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The ceremony took place in the presence of His Excellency, the Pro-Prefect of the Dicastery for Evangelization, Archbishop Rino Fisichella, the Mayor of Rome, Roberto Gualtieri, the Minister for European Affairs, the South, Cohesion Policies and the PNRR , Raffaele Fitto, the Head of the Technical Secretariat of the Undersecretary of State for the Implementation of the Government Programme, Emilio Scalfarotto, the President of CONI, Giovanni Malagò and the CEO of Deloitte Central Mediterranean, Fabio Pompei.

At the ribbon-cutting ceremony the Mayor of Rome, Roberto Gualtieri, said: “Rome is once more a protagonist on the national and international scene. Not only thanks to the huge investment that we are transforming into public works which will change the face of the city, but also thanks to our ongoing efforts which are bearing fruit in unprecedented flows of tourists, and a growing international attractiveness for those who want to invest.

“I am thinking of the return of major events to the city, the opening of new prestigious hotels, the rebirth of monumental areas large and small, but also of the presence of tech industries and world-class projects, starting from those in the Tiburtina area, and the opening of increasingly innovative start-ups.

“The increasingly strong commitment within the city area of a company like Deloitte is further confirmation of this constant growth path. Furthermore, the choice of Via Veneto as the new headquarters reaffirms the cultural and economic importance of an iconic part of the capital. The decision to redevelop a historic building with sustainability and innovation at the heart of the project, is fully consistent with the objectives promoted by this Administration.”

After the blessing of the new Deloitte HQ, Archbishop Rino Fisichella said: “The preparation for the next Jubilee has found in Deloitte a highly professional partner and this will provide us with significant support in organizing the Jubilee event. Deloitte’s place in the general organizational plan of the Jubilee is of great support to us at the Dicastery and allows us to make use of their expertise in various sectors and tap into their expertise in responding to the inevitable difficulties that organizing such an event entails. We are grateful to Deloitte for the company’s bold and generous decision to support an extraordinary event for the Catholic Church such as the Jubilee and we hope that its entrepreneurial activity can be increasingly fruitful and effective for Rome and for Italy”.

Minister Raffaele Fitto also spoke at the ceremony. He said: “In a crucial moment such as this, for which the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR) has been set up, the role of businesses is essential in the relaunch of the Italian economy. In particular, investment in young talents and skills, such as that carried out by Deloitte, will be one of the fundamental components for the success of the PNRR and for the growth of the entire country in the long term. For this reason, the Government welcomes Deloitte’s commitment in Rome and throughout Italy.”

Emilio Scalfarotto, Head of the Technical Secretariat of the Undersecretary of State for the Implementation of the Government Programme was equally enthusiastic. He said: “The choice made by Deloitte is a choice that makes us proud. The opening of the new Rome office and the important jobs boost planned for the next few years confirm the climate of great trust that has been created around the country. This encourages us to press on in the direction we have set ourselves, supporting those who, like Deloitte, have put their faith in Italy, creating wealth and jobs.”

Fabio Pompei, CEO of Deloitte Central Mediterranean concluded by saying: “We are proud to inaugurate a new chapter for Deloitte in Rome today. The number of Deloitte people working in the capital has almost doubled in the last five years and the choice to move our headquarters to Via Vittorio Veneto reflects the centrality of Rome in the growth strategy of the network in Italy.

“We decided to redevelop an iconic building in the heart of Rome, in a street which is famous for its intellectual and artistic culture, with the aim of restoring value to the city, while generating a positive impact for the surrounding area, and for our customers and wider community. But we don’t plan to stop here: in the next three years we aim to hire another thousand people, further expanding our presence in this building which have been designed to stimulate creativity and innovation, and support people’s well-being and inclusion.”

Set in a historic building in the heart of Rome, the new HQ will be the point of reference for the over 2,600 Deloitte staff operating in the capital, who up until now have been working from various offices, supporting more than 750 clients in the area. The new Roman headquarters is located in Via Vittorio Veneto, in a neoclassical-style architectural complex designed in 1927 by the architect Carlo Broggi, which was the former headquarters of the IRI (Institute for Industrial Reconstruction) and Fintecna. Deloitte is committed to the restoration of the building, a renovation based on environmental sustainability and innovation.

Spread over an area of 16,000 m2, Deloitte’s new Roman headquarters is one of the few historic buildings in the city to boast triple certification (LEED, BREEAM and WELL). Confirming the Deloitte network’s attention to ESG issues, the three certifications ensure the highest standards of promoting health and well-being in the workplace, as well as environmental sustainability and energy efficiency.

The new headquarters is also planned to support Hybrid Working. It consists of 70 meeting rooms, over 750 work stations and an auditorium for conferences and events – a multipurpose space which will welcome customers and professionals alike, embracing a Hybrid Working approach. Since 2020, the entire Deloitte network has adopted hybrid working, giving its people the possibility of alternating in person and remote work. The new office in Via Veneto has been designed with this in mind to increase people’s well-being and productivity, combining efficiency and flexibility.

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Archbishop Rino Fisichella, Pro-Prefect of the Dicastery for Evangelization announced the decision to entrust Stegip 4 with the creation of the Official Pilgrim Backpack. He said: “I was very grateful for the proposals from various Italian and foreign companies for the production and marketing of an official Pilgrim Backpack for the next Jubilee in 2025. I know well how useful a backpack can be during a pilgrimage and how special it can be for people to keep it afterwards, with its signs of wear and tear, as a memento of days of prayer and reflection, of an  emotional and unforgettable time in their lives.”

The backpack and all the accessories that make up the Pilgrim’s Kit – a wide-brimmed hat, a scarf, a water bottle, a waterproof poncho, and a wrist rosary – were made using recycled and eco-sustainable components.

“Our aim was to offer a product designed for an environmentally-friendly Jubilee, capable of generating positive feedback from both the new generations and pilgrims who have already participated in previous Jubilees or pilgrimages and who know the importance of always having a backpack with you,” added Dr Gino Conversi, Marketing Director of Stegip4.

Dr Stefano D’Ambrosio, Founder and CEO of Stegip4, thanking the Pro-Prefect of the Dicastery for Evangelization for the trust placed in his company, added: “The choice of the Dicastery for Evangelization is one that makes us very proud, and which recognizes the great attention Stegip4 pays both to high quality standards of production and respect for the ecosystem.

“With this in mind, we have created a product that combines creativity, ethical trade values and low environmental impact. I – and all the professionals at Stegip4 – are grateful to the Dicastery for Evangelization and to His Excellency Archbishop Rino Fisichella for their collaboration and involvement in an event of faith and culture which will be so relevant for Catholics from all over the world.

“Through the Pilgrim’s Backpack we wanted to proclaim the jubilee motto Peregrinantes in Spem,  an invitation to rebuild a climate of hope and trust so as to look positively to the future – a  future of rebirth, for which everyone must shoulder responsibility, just like a backpack in which to put all that really matters.”

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Dear brothers and sisters, we can ask ourselves: Is Rome preparing to become a “city of hope” in the Holy Year? We all know that the organization of the Jubilee has been underway for some time. But we understand well  that, in the perspective we assume here, in the first place it’s not about this; rather, it’s about the witness of the ecclesial and civil community; a witness that, more than in the events, consists in the style of life, in the ethical and spiritual quality of our coexistence. Hence, the question can be formulated thus: “is each one working in his/her ambit for this city to be a sign of hope for those that live in it and for those that visit it?

During the half-hour audience, Mayor Gualtieri gave the Pope a book illustrating 184 main projects for the Holy Year. According to the Italian press, the projects will change the tourist face of the city of Rome. For his part, the Mayor said on the social networks:

A profoundly inspiring meeting with Pope Francis today for the traditional audience at the beginning of the year. It was a pleasure to show him the progress of the work of the numerous projects underway for the Jubilee, for the reception and care of the most fragile people.

In addition to the transformation of the pedestrian area of Piazza Pia (already reported by ZENIT), another Square close to the Vatican will be partially transformed into a free zone for vehicles: we are referring to Piazza del Risorgimento, where they will build an underground parking lot also with underground passages. Thus the two lateral accesses that lead to Saint Peter’s Square will have underground passages. Another of the ambitious projects implies giving 5G coverage to the entire city. And there are already investments underway to incorporate 400 new buses and 12 new trams. The total investment for the Jubilee is 2,500 million [euros]. Anyone visiting the city of Rome in early 2024 will come across numerous works, which must be understood in this context: a clear example of it is the central [railway] station known as Termini. It is estimated officially that some 35 million pilgrims will visit Rome during the 2025 Jubilee.

On January 11 the Vatican announced one of its emblematic works in the same sense: the interior canopy of the Vatican Basilica.  The last ordinary Holy Year was convoked and concluded by Saint John Paul II in the Year 2000.

Although Jubilees sink their origin in a Jewish tradition taken up by Christianity, it was Boniface VIII who was the first to call one in 1300. Since then, a Jubilee is held every 25 years. The last ordinary Holy Year was convoked and concluded by Saint John Paul II in the Year 2000.

A detailed list of the work for the Jubilee can be seen here.

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