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A ‘Pilgrim of Hope’: Recalling Pope Francis’ Impact on the 2025 Jubilee Year

By Currents News and The Tablet Staff

VATICAN CITY — As the Holy Year 2025 concluded on January 6, 2026, observers reflected on Pope Francis’ contributions to the Jubilee of Hope, which he inaugurated on Christmas Eve 2024 by opening the Holy Door of St. Peter’s Basilica.

The ceremony began with the basilica’s bells pealing as the doors opened. Following a reading from the Gospel of John, where Jesus identifies himself as “the door.”

Pope Francis briefly exited the atrium, leading to momentary confusion among attendees.

Cardinals in the front row sat down, and others followed. Three minutes later, the pope returned in his wheelchair, was pushed up a ramp to the Holy Door, and knocked five times.

Aides inside opened the bronze door, decorated with green pine branches, red roses, and gold pinecones.

The opening of the Holy Door has been part of Catholic jubilee celebrations since the Holy Year 1450, according to the Vatican.

Pope Francis selected “Pilgrims of Hope” as the theme for the year, which ran from December 24, 2024, to January 6, 2026.

The rite inside the basilica included readings in various languages of biblical passages prophesying the savior’s birth and the establishment of a kingdom of peace. This was followed by the proclamation of St. Matthew’s account of Jesus’ birth, highlighting its role in bringing hope.

A trumpet blare introduced the choir’s rendition of “Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.”In his address to cardinals, bishops, ecumenical guests, and lay faithful in the atrium, Pope Francis stated: “The steps we now take are the steps of the whole church, a pilgrim in the world and a witness of peace.”

He continued: “Holding fast to Christ, the rock of our salvation, enlightened by his word and renewed by his grace, may we cross the threshold of this holy temple and so enter into a season of mercy and forgiveness in which every man and woman may encounter and embrace the path of hope, which does not disappoint.”

Drawing on biblical jubilee themes of reconciliation and forgiveness, Pope Francis prayed for the Holy Spirit to soften hardened hearts, enabling “enemies [to] speak to each other again, adversaries [to] join hands and people [to] seek to meet together.” He added: “Grant that the church may bear faithful witness to your love and may shine forth as a vital sign of the blessed hope of your kingdom.”

The Holy Door, located to the right of the basilica’s main doors, is typically sealed with bricks to symbolize the barrier of sin between humanity and God. Its 16 bronze panels depict scenes from salvation history, such as the fall of Adam and Eve, the annunciation, Christ as the shepherd rescuing a lost sheep, the crucifixion, and the risen Jesus appearing to the disciples.

After Pope Francis and altar servers crossed the threshold, ten children from ten countries, accompanied by their parents, followed. Next came 54 individuals from 27 nations, including the United States, Canada, Australia, Tanzania, Togo, Venezuela, and Vietnam. Many wore traditional clothing from their nations or ethnic groups.

Representatives from other Christian churches were also among the first to pass through, also marking an important milestone of the 1,700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea.

According to the Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity, entering the Holy Door signifies a willingness to follow Jesus, the only begotten Son of God.

The participation occurred during a year marking the 1,700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea.

While Pope Francis began the Jubilee Year, he was unable to see its end: he died on April 21, 2025, at age 88, following a hospital stay for double pneumonia and other health issues.

He passed at his residence at Casa Santa Marta on Easter Monday, after making his final public appearance on Easter Sunday.

His successor, Pope Leo XIV, became the new pontiff and continued the Jubilee Year, overseeing its remaining months.

Pope Leo XIV closed the Holy Door at St. Peter’s Basilica on January 6, 2026, marking the end of the year, which saw approximately 33 million pilgrims visiting Rome.

In his closing remarks, Pope Leo denounced consumerism and anti-foreigner sentiment.

During a general audience on December 31, 2025, he also referenced the Jubilee pilgrimage, the passing of Pope Francis, and ongoing global conflicts, urging Catholics to examine their consciences, repent, and entrust the future to God’s mercy, describing life as a pilgrimage toward eternal communion with God.

Bishop-Elect Rodríguez Wishes Palm Beach Bishop Emeritus Barbarito a Happy Birthday

By Currents News

Brooklyn priest and Palm Beach, Florida Bishop-Elect Manuel de Jesús Rodríguez paid tribute to his predecessor on social media, sharing a heartfelt birthday message for Bishop Emeritus Gerald Barbarito, who celebrated his 76th birthday on Jan. 4.

In a video posted to Facebook, Rodríguez prayed, asking the Lord for blessings upon Barbarito before wishing him a happy birthday.

Bishop Barbarito, born in Brooklyn on January 4, 1950, served as the fifth Bishop of Palm Beach beginning in 2003.

The ordination and installation Mass for Bishop-Elect Rodríguez is scheduled for Tuesday, February 24 at 2 p.m. at the Cathedral of St. Ignatius Loyola.

Currents News and The Tablet will provide full coverage of the celebration.

Praying for Venezuela: Pope, Bishops Call for Peace as Maduro Faces Court in New York

By Christine Persichette

Ousted Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, made their first court appearance in New York Jan. 5, pleading not guilty to felony drug and weapons charges.

The couple was captured during a deadly U.S. military raid at their Caracas residence on Saturday and transferred to a New York City prison.

Flanked by Drug Enforcement Administration agents, Maduro arrived at the courthouse amid clashing protests—some celebrating the perceived end of his regime, others condemning the U.S. action.

Legal analyst Elie Honig noted that Maduro’s defense will likely argue the arrest violated international law. “I think it’s fairly unlikely that a U.S. federal district court judge is going to say, I take issue with the way this arrest happened and therefore I dismiss the charges,” Honig said.

Back in Venezuela, citizens face uncertainty. Caracas resident Judith Ledezma expressed the widespread anxiety: “We have no idea what our fate will be now with this new situation.”

The country’s new leader, Delcy Rodríguez, has extended an invitation to the U.S. for an “agenda of cooperation.”

U.S. officials are working to establish a compliant interim government, prioritizing administrative stability and repairing oil infrastructure.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated, “We want Venezuela to move in a certain direction because not only do we think it’s good for the people of Venezuela, it’s in our national interest.”

Amid the turmoil, Pope Leo XIV has urged Venezuelans to rely on faith and pray for peace.

“The good of the beloved Venezuelan people must prevail over every other consideration. This must lead to the overcoming of violence, and to the pursuit of paths of justice and peace,” the Holy Father said.

He entrusted the nation to the Blessed Mother, inviting prayers through the intercession of Our Lady of Coromoto and Saints José Gregorio Hernández and Carmen Rendiles.

Venezuela’s bishops echoed the call for calm, stating: “In view of the events that our country is experiencing today, let us ask God to grant all Venezuelans serenity, wisdom, and strength. We stand in solidarity with those who were injured and with the families of those who died. Let us persevere in prayer for the unity of our people.”

As Venezuela navigates this pivotal moment, faith remains a guiding light for peace and reconciliation.

Catholic News Headlines for Monday 1/5/26

Pope Leo XIV is praying for peace after deposed President Nicolás Maduro was captured, urging Catholics to place their trust in faith during a moment of national upheaval.

Archbishop-elect Ronald Hicks shares his Epiphany message on encountering Christ and returning transformed, ahead of his installation as leader of the Archdiocese of New York.

Bishop Robert Brennan led the Diocese of Brooklyn’s final Jubilee Mass, reminding the faithful that their lifelong pilgrimage of hope continues with God always walking beside them.

The Diocese of Brooklyn looks back on Jubilee Year 2025, reflecting on a once-in-a-generation journey of faith, pilgrimage, renewal, and joy lived out by Catholics across Brooklyn and Queens.

Currents News Special: ‘2025 End of Year Review’ to Air Dec. 23 at 7 PM

By Currents News

Currents News is wrapping up this Jubilee Year of Hope with a special episode that looks back at 2025 and the moments that helped shape the faith of Catholics throughout Brooklyn, Queens, and beyond.

This 30-minute special newscast includes:

  • How Brooklyn and Queens parishioners joined Bishop Robert Brennan as Pilgrims of Hope to inaugurate the Jubilee year.
  • Exclusive coverage from the Vatican as white smoke from the Sistine Chapel signaled the selection of Pope Leo XIV — the first American Pontiff.
  • A heartfelt tribute to “The People’s Pope,” Pope Francis, with scenes from a massive farewell in St. Peter’s Square and a special Mass in the Diocese of Brooklyn.
  • The canonization of Carlo Acutis,the first millennial saint, and a look at an official Diocesan Shrine at a Queens parish dedicated to the tech-savvy teen.

The half-hour End of Year special will air on NET TV, a cable network featuring news and information from a Catholic perspective and is available in the New York area on Spectrum, channel 97, Optimum, channel 30, and Verizon FIOS channel 548.

Viewers can also watch Currents News online on YouTube or on netny.tv/shows/currentsnews/.

Diocese of Brooklyn Marks Once-in-a-Lifetime Jubilee Year 2025 With Pilgrimages, Prayer

By Jessica Easthope

Jubilees happen every 25 years, but for those who made pilgrimages, received plenary indulgences and grew in faith, this was once-in-a-lifetime.

It started where faith thrives every day — on the streets of Brooklyn.

The Jubilee kicked off with Bishop Robert Brennan leading a Eucharistic procession from the Cathedral-Basilica of St. James to the Co-Cathedral of St. Joseph. Hundreds prayed amid the city’s hustle and bustle.

“It gives us a concrete reminder that we’re not alone, that Christ is walking with us,” Bishop Brennan told Currents News.

Lent brought on a pilgrimage closer to home for pilgrims of hope: a passport took parishioners around the Diocese of Brooklyn to six Jubilee station churches, where the faithful earned plenary indulgences — the freedom from the temporal punishment of sin.

“God is merciful and kind,” one pilgrim said of their experience.

And for some of New York’s finest, the Holy Name Society traded the boroughs of the Big Apple for the Eternal City.

Bishop Brennan also honored the elderly at Queen of Peace for the Jubilee of Families, praising their faith legacy.

But throughout the Jubilee year, the younger generation took center stage.

“Once you’re with people your own age you feel a lot more connected,” one young person said of their experience celebrating the Jubilee Year in the Diocese of Brooklyn.

All together, nearly 90 young pilgrims even got a front row seat to the first American pope, Pope Leo the XIV, speaking to them in a crowd of more than 1 million.

“To everyone that says young people aren’t falling in love with Catholicism — yes we are,” said JP Marasigan, co-youth minister at St. Mary Gate of Heaven Church in Queens.

But no young person was more of a source of inspiration than the first ever millennial saint, Carlo Acutis.

“He’s not only an inspiration to the young people but reminds us how much we have to learn from the young people,” said Bishop Brennan.

In September of 2025, Saint Carlo Acutis was canonized alongside St. Pier Giorgio Frassati during the Jubilee and continues to serve as an example unlike any other.

“He is this influencer for God even before we had social media, he’s like our patron, he did it first,” said Grace Lugo, a parishioner at San Damiano Mission Church in Brooklyn.

And back in the Diocese of Brooklyn, Sacred Heart of Jesus Church in Bayside, Queens was named as a diocesan shrine of Saint Carlo Acutis, a sacred place for pilgrimages and prayer for young people.

From processions to pilgrimages, art to adoration, and holy hours that packed the pews, the Jubilee’s impact was felt in every corner of the Diocese of Brooklyn.

Currents News Special: 2025 End of Year Review

Currents News is wrapping up 2025 with a look back at the moments that helped shape the faith of Catholics throughout Brooklyn, Queens, and beyond.

This special newscast includes:

  • How Brooklyn and Queens parishioners joined Bishop Robert Brennan as Pilgrims of Hope to inaugurate the Jubilee Year.
  • Exclusive coverage from the Vatican as white smoke from the Sistine Chapel signaled the selection of Pope Leo XIV — the first American Pontiff.
  • A heartfelt tribute to “The People’s Pope,” Pope Francis, with scenes from a massive farewell in St. Peter’s Square and a special Mass in the Diocese of Brooklyn.
  • The canonization of Carlo Acutis, the first millennial saint, and a look at an official Diocesan Shrine at a Queens parish dedicated to the tech-savvy teen.

Brooklyn Bishop Robert Brennan Shares Advent Message

By Currents News

Brooklyn Bishop Robert Brennan is inspiring his flock as Christmas approaches.

The shepherd posted a message on his X account for the last Sunday of Advent, reminding people of faith that the birth of Christ is only the beginning of the story.

In his reflection, Bishop Brennan emphasizes the ongoing presence of “God with us.”

To listen to his full reflection, follow Bishop Brennan on X at @bishopofbklyn.

Catholic News Headlines for Monday 12/22/25

In Gaza, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem celebrates Christmas Mass at the territory’s only Catholic church, standing with a small community that continues to worship despite years of war.

Pope Leo XIV continues a beloved Vatican Christmas tradition by blessing the crowd’s baby Jesus statues during his Sunday Angelus.

At St. Andrew Avellino Catholic Academy in Queens, their pastor meets monthly with students to answer their questions about faith.

In this installment of Pulse of the Parish, meet the woman behind summer fun at St. Francis of Assisi Church in Queens, whose energy, faith, and dedication make her the heartbeat of her parish community.

Fridays With Father: St. Andrew Avellino Students Deepen Faith Through Monthly Q & A in Queens

By Katie Vasquez

At St. Andrew Avellino Catholic Academy, attending Mass is a regular part of the curriculum.

But once a month on Fridays, the Queens middle school students receive a special opportunity: a one-on-one lesson with their pastor, Father Gregory McIlhenney.

“I want to make sure that the kids see me, that they don’t only see me on Sundays,” Father McIlhenney said.

“This is important because we are planting seeds… we don’t know if they’re going to fall on rocky soil, thorny soil, or rich soil.”

The conversations began after the Diocese of Brooklyn Schools Office encouraged pastors to become more involved. For the school, the sessions fulfill a promise to families to strengthen Catholic identity.

Principal Deborah Hanna noted, “It’s great for mentoring our Catholic identity. I think it’s something that the kids cherish after he leaves and hopefully will build their relationship with God stronger.”

Each week, students submit questions in writing or by email.

Eighth-grader Marisa Beechel appreciates the format: “You can’t always ask these kind of out-of-the-blue questions during Mass. It’s always nice to kind of have a one-on-one situation.”

The timing aligns with the eighth graders’ preparation for Confirmation.

“I think it really helps us connect with our church and help us be more involved, especially now that we’re making Confirmation,” student Antonella Ronquillo told Currents News.

Student Jhon Quintero added that Father McIlhenney shows how Gospel teachings apply daily: “When we learn about the virtues, the cardinal and the theological ones, he explained to us in church and he explained it to us after and how we could use [them] in our lives to follow Christ.”

Father McIlhenney hopes the sessions foster deeper relationships with God and perhaps spark vocations or evangelization.

“We need vocations to holy families,” he said. “And that’s why I pray every single Mass for holy families, because if it wasn’t for what my parents taught me and how they led me in the way of the faith, I would have never had that introduction to Christ.”

Through these monthly gatherings, St. Andrew Avellino is mentoring the next generation of Catholics in Flushing.