Our beloved Pope Francis provided an overview of the jubilee in his document: Spes non Confundit (SnC) [hope does not disappoint], basing it on Paul’s Letter to the Romans (5:5): “Hope does not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.”
Francis asks us to become “tangible signs of hope” for our brothers and sisters who experience hardship of any kind. He specifically mentions prisoners, the sick, young people, migrants, the poor, as well as the many suffering in today’s world. He also reminds all believers that “the Christian life is a journey, calling for moments of greater intensity to encourage and sustain hope as the constant companion that guides our steps towards the goal of our encounter with the Lord Jesus” (SnC, 5).
The pope continues: “In addition to finding hope in God’s grace, we are also called to discover hope in the signs of the times that the Lord gives us…. We need to recognize the immense goodness present in our world … [so we are not] overwhelmed by evil and violence” (SnC, 7). The Catholic community frequently calls upon Mary, the “Mother of Hope” (Mater Spei), a new litany title added by Pope Francis in 2020.
WISDOM FROM JOHN PAUL II
Several recent popes have written insightfully on the virtue of hope. Saint John Paul II, during his pontificate (1978-2005), sought to inspire the world to hold on to hope in face of several fearful circumstances like the Cold War and the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks focused on the World Trade Center in New York. Many felt hopeless during these times, yet Pope Wojtyla advised people to stay strong and not lose hope.
The first words that newly elected Pope John Paul II spoke to the crowds in Saint Peter’s Square were: “Be not afraid.” Furthermore, he noted: “I plead with you–never, ever give up on hope; never doubt, never tire and never become discouraged. Be not afraid.”
This pope also wrote an apostolic letter addressed to the youth of the world (Dilecti Amici) [DA] on the occasion of the International Youth Year (1985) proclaimed by the United Nations. The letter begins with this scripture quote: “Always be prepared to make a defense to anyone who calls you to account for the hope that is in you” (I Peter, 3:15).
Another significant papal document on hope is the 2007 encyclical Spe Salvi (SS) by Pope Benedict. He writes: “Human life is a journey. Towards what destination? How do we find the way? Life is like a voyage on the sea of history, often dark and stormy, a voyage in which we watch for the stars that indicate the route. The true stars of our life are the people who have lived good lives” (SS, 49).
The final section of Spe Salvi (SS) by Pope Benedict XVI is a prayer addressed to Mary; it is deeply touching and appealing. The pope observes: “Through you [Mary], through your ‘yes,’ the hope of the ages became reality, entering this world and its history…. When you hastened with holy joy across the mountains of Judea to see your cousin Elizabeth, you became the image of the Church to come, which carries the hope of the world in her womb across the mountains of history” (SS, 50).
Benedict continues: “At the foot of the Cross, on the strength of Jesus’ own word, you became the mother of believers…. Thus, you remain in the midst of the disciples as their Mother, as the Mother of hope. Holy Mary, Mother of God, our Mother, teach us to believe, to hope, to love with you” (SS, 50).
WALKING IN HOPE
Returning to Pope Francis, one notes that in his message for the 2025 World Day of Social Communications, he offered insightful reflections on the virtue of hope. He began by noting: “As I reflect on the Jubilee we are celebrating this year as a moment of grace in these troubled times, I would like this message to invite you to be ‘communicators of hope’.”
Francis continues: “Hope, in fact, is not something easy. Georges Bernanos once said that, ‘only those are capable of hope, who have had the courage to despair of the illusions and lies in which they once found security and which they falsely mistook for hope…. Hope is a risk that must be taken. It is the risk of risks’.”
Francis asserts: “It is good to seek out such seeds of hope and make them known…. May you always find those glimmers of goodness that inspire us to hope … [and] to make us feel less alone, to rediscover the importance of walking together.”
James H. Kroeger, MM, served mission in Asia (Philippines and Bangladesh) for over five decades; recently he authored Walking with Pope Francis (Paulines, Manila) and A Joyful Journey with Pope Francis (Claretians, Manila).
