His Holiness Pope Leo XIV has arranged that, from the 10th January, 2026 to the 10th January, 2027, this Year of St. Francis will be celebrated, during which all the Christian faithful are invited to follow the example of the Saint of Assisi, becoming models of holiness of life and constant witnesses of peace. The Apostolic Penitentiary grants the plenary indulgence under the usual conditions to those who participate devoutly in this extraordinary jubilee, which represents an ideal continuation of the Ordinary Jubilee of 2025.
This Jubilee Year is addressed especially to members of the Franciscan Families of the First, Second and Third Regular and Secular Orders, as well as to Institutes of Consecrated Life, Societies of Apostolic Life and Associations that observe the Rule of St. Francis or are inspired by its spirituality. However, the grace of this special year is also extended to all the faithful without distinction who, with their spirits removed from sin, visit in the form of a pilgrimage any Franciscan conventual church or place of worship dedicated to St. Francis in any part of the world. The elderly, the sick and those who for serious reasons cannot leave home will also be able to obtain the plenary indulgence by spiritually joining the Jubilee celebrations and offering their prayers, pains or sufferings to God.
In this time of celebration that culminates eight hundred years of Franciscan memory, we cordially invite all the faithful to take an active part in this exceptional Jubilee. May the shining example of St. Francis, who knew how to make himself poor and humble in order to be true alter Christus on earth, inspire our hearts to live with authentic Christian charity towards our neighbour and with sincere longings for concord and peace among peoples. Following in the footsteps of the Poverello of Assisi, let us transform the hope that made us pilgrims during the Holy Year into fervour and zeal of effective charity. May this Year of St Francis be for each one of us a providential occasion for sanctification and evangelical witness in the contemporary world, for the glory of God and the good of the whole Church.
Conditions for receiving the Indulgence
(for oneself or for the deceased) Sacramental confession to be in God’s grace (in the eight days before or after); Participation in Mass and Eucharistic Communion; To visit in the form of a pilgrimage any Franciscan church or place of worship dedicated to St. Francis anywhere in the world, where one renews one’s profession of faith, through the recitation of the Creed, to reaffirm one’s Christian identity; The recitation of the Lord’s Prayer, to reaffirm the dignity of children of God, received in Baptism; To pray for the intentions of the Holy Father, to reaffirm belonging to the Church, whose foundation and visible center of unity is the Roman Pontiff.
Inclusivity and Spiritual Participation
Importantly, the Jubilee and its indulgence are not limited to those who can physically travel. The decree explicitly states that: The sick, the elderly, and those unable to leave their homes may also receive the plenary indulgence if they spiritually unite themselves to the jubilee and offer up their prayers, sufferings, or daily challenges to God. This pastoral provision reflects the Church’s recognition that grace is not restricted by physical limitations, but opens doors for all faithful to participate in this extraordinary year of mercy.
Historical and Spiritual Context
Saint Francis of Assisi (1181–1226) is remembered for his radical embrace of the Gospel — renouncing wealth, living in solidarity with the poor, and preaching peace. His life became a living testament to Christ’s humility and love. This Jubilee invites the faithful to renew their commitment to these core values of Christian discipleship. The tradition of jubilees dates back to the early Church as times of mercy and reconciliation. Over the centuries, popes have proclaimed both universal and special jubilee years to deepen the spiritual life of the faithful and renew the Church’s mission in the world.
What This Jubilee Offers the Faithful
The Jubilee Year of St. Francis is more than a commemorative date on the calendar; it is a call to conversion. It urges believers to reflect on how closely their lives reflect the Gospel witness of St. Francis, to pursue holiness with renewed vigor, and to cultivate peace in hearts, families, and communities. As Pope Leo explains, the Jubilee encourages the faithful not simply to remember Francis’ life, but to embody his spirit of peace, charity, and simplicity in a world that sorely needs these virtues.
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