Holy Year - Pilgrims of Hope

A Jubilee Year or Holy Year is a special jubilee year in the Roman Catholic Church. Pope Boniface VIII first proclaimed such a year for pilgrims to Rome in 1300. Since 1475, every 25th year has been celebrated as a jubilee year. The Holy Year 2025 began with the opening of the Holy Door in St. Peter's Basilica on December 24, 2024. The motto is “Pilgrims of Hope”, picking up on a central theme of Pope Francis. The city of Rome is expecting around 45 million pilgrims and visitors.

The souvenir sheet “Holy Year 2025 – Pilgrims of Hope” honors the two popes who will forever be associated with this year. “Pope Francis” (face value CHF 1.00), born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in 1936, died during the Jubilee Year on Easter Monday. As Pope, he advocated dialog and peace. His successor, “Pope Leo XIV” (face value CHF 1.90), was elected pope in the fourth ballot on May 8, 2025. Robert Francis Prevost, his real name, was born in Chicago, Illinois, in 1955, making him the first US pope in history.