Jubilee in the Holy Year 2025 - 60 years of the diaconate
Following the International Study Conference, many participants also took part in the Jubilee of Deacons as part of the Holy Year 2025, which was celebrated in Rome from 21-23 February.
Jubilee of the Deacons in Rome
Filled with the encounters and impressions of the International Study Conference, a large number of the participants travelled to Rome to take part in the celebrations for the Jubilee of Deacons as part of the Holy Year 2025, which took place in Rome from 21-23 February.
On Friday, the celebrations opened with a catechesis, which was held in one of the Jubilee churches in Rome, divided into language groups.
On Saturday morning, the Dicastery for the Clergy, under the direction of Cardinal Lazarus You Heung Sik, organised an international meeting for deacons and interested parties in the Auditorium Conciliazione, which was attended by over 1400 people. During this event, seven members of the IDC were able to report on the situation of the diaconate in their regions or on the situation of deacons’ wives. At the end of the event, there was the opportunity to go on pilgrimage through the Holy Door.
To mark the solemn conclusion of the deacon jubilee, a Holy Mass was held in St Peter’s Basilica on Sunday, attended by several thousand deacons and 23 new deacons were ordained. Due to his serious illness, Pope Francis was unable to celebrate the closing Mass himself. His sermon on three dimensions of diaconal service – “forgiveness, selfless service and community” – had to be delivered by Archbishop Rino Fisichella, who also ordained the new deacons.
The homily can be read here: vaticannews.va