Pope Leo This is the first celebration of its kind presided over by Leo XIV, who was elected in May 2025 to succeed Pope Francis, who died on April 21 and was remembered in the pontiff’s homily.
Commenting on the biblical readings made during Vespers prayer, Leo XIV made a contrast between God’s plans and the plans of the world. The pope said that there is “a great plan in human history. A mysterious plan, but with a clear center, like a high mountain illuminated by the sun in the midst of a dense forest”, and added: “we feel in our time the need for a wise, kind and merciful plan, a free and liberating plan, peaceful, faithful, like the one that the Virgin Mary proclaimed in her song of praise: ‘His mercy extends from generation to generation / on those who fear him’ (Luke 1.50)”.
In contrast, the pontiff stated, there are “other plans” that “involve the world”, but which are nothing more than “strategies that seek to conquer markets, territories and spheres of influence. Armed strategies, disguised as hypocritical speeches, ideological proclamations and false religious motives”. Still citing the MagnificatMary’s words when visiting her cousin Elizabeth, in the end the promoters of these plans, the proud and powerful, will be defeated while the humble will be exalted.
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Jubilee ends on January 6
Still following the theme of the divine plan, Leo “The Jubilee is a great sign of a new world, renewed and reconciled according to God’s plans. And in this plan, Providence reserved a particular place for this city of Rome. Not because of its glories or its power, but because here Peter, Paul and so many other martyrs shed their blood for Christ. That is why Rome is the city of Jubilee,” said the pope.
The Pope especially thanked everyone involved in organizing the Jubilee and welcoming the millions of pilgrims who visited Rome throughout 2025, and remembered Pope Francis, who convened and opened the Jubilee Year. “We thank everyone who worked at the service of pilgrims, so that Rome would be more welcoming. A year ago, this was the wish of dear Pope Francis. He wanted it to continue to be so, and even more so after this time of grace. May this city, animated by Christian hope, be at the service of God’s plan of love for the human family”, concluded Leo XIV.
Pope will meet with all cardinals on January 7th and 8th
After the end of the Jubilee, another major event is already on the pope’s agenda, who has called for an extraordinary consistory for the 7th and 8th of January – a meeting with all the cardinals from the world who can go to Rome –, in which topics such as synodality, Church governance and liturgy will be discussed. This is the first meeting of its kind since 2015; Francis has convened only two extraordinary consistories in his 12 years of pontificate, preferring to consult with a more restricted group of cardinals from various regions of the world.
