Jubilee of the World of Volunteering

Jubilee of Volunteers: A Celebration of Service and Hope

The Jubilee of the World of Volunteering took place on March 8-9, 2025, in Rome, drawing approximately 25,000 pilgrims from over 100 countries. This event, the fifth Jubilee Major Event,  was dedicated to volunteers, non-profit organizations, NGOs, and social workers worldwide.

Key events included: the pilgrimage to St. Peter’s Basilica and the crossing of the Holy Door, “Dialogues with the City” featuring cultural, artistic, and spiritual encounters in Rome and the  Mass in St. Peter’s Square, presided over by Cardinal Michael Czerny, who read the homily prepared by Pope Francis (still in hospital).

The Jubilee was an opportunity to reflect on the meaning of unpaid commitment, promote solidarity, and recognize the invaluable contributions of volunteers to society.

In his homily, Pope Francis focused on the Lenten journey and addressed the volunteers, praising their generosity and commitment. He emphasized that volunteers, “in the deserts of poverty and loneliness,” bring hope and help “a new humanity blossom in the garden that is God’s dream”. 

Throughout his pontificate, Pope Francis has several times  emphasized the value of volunteering. In particular, during the 2022 meeting with members of the Federation of Christian Organizations for International Volunteer Service (Focsiv), he emphasized that being volunteers means first of all “going out to meet“. Volunteering, according to Pope Francis, is “one of the most beautiful things“, because everyone freely chooses to take a path that leads towards the other, reaching out and caring for others. It is necessary to act concretely, overcoming the temptation to remain inert and indifferent. Volunteering implies the effort of going out to help others, an active and concrete commitment that requires an “open heart, an outstretched hand, and legs ready to go. Going out to encounter and going out to give.”

Images

• Foto di Ismael Paramo su Unsplash

Sources

• Jubilee of the World of Volunteering Program
• Homily of the Holy Father Francis read by Cardinal Michael Czerny – Holy See Press Office
• Address of His Holiness Pope Francis to the Federation of Non-Governmental Christian Organizations for International Voluntary Service (Focsiv)  – Holy See Press Office