Pope Leo XIV Urges Compassion for Foreigners as Catholic Holy Year Concludes
ROME, Italy — Pope Leo XIV brought the Catholic Church’s Holy Year to a solemn close on Tuesday, urging Christians across the globe to extend kindness and support to foreigners and those in need. In a ceremony at St. Peter’s Basilica, the pope shut the special bronze Holy Door, marking the end of a jubilee year that drew a record 33.5 million pilgrims to Rome from 185 countries. The event, steeped in tradition, symbolizes a time of peace, forgiveness, and spiritual renewal within the Church.
“After this year, will we be better able to recognize a pilgrim in the visitor, a seeker in the stranger, a neighbor in the foreigner?” Pope Leo asked, emphasizing the need for empathy in a world often driven by economic gain. “Around us, a distorted economy tries to profit from everything,” he said, echoing concerns about how markets can reduce human aspirations to mere commodities.
The 2025 Holy Year, also known as a Jubilee, was opened by the late Pope Francis in April and closed by Leo, who was elected in May, making him the first American pope. This rare transition under two different pontiffs has not occurred in over 300 years, the last being in 1700. During the year, pilgrims were welcomed through special Holy Doors at four major basilicas in Rome, participating in papal audiences and spiritual rites designed to inspire peace and forgiveness.
Pope Leo’s closing remarks reaffirmed the Church’s commitment to social justice, particularly the care of immigrants and marginalized communities. His papacy has continued Francis’ legacy of inclusivity, including outreach to gay Catholics and discussions on women’s roles within the Church. The pope’s appeal for kindness toward foreigners aligns with ongoing global debates over immigration policies and the treatment of displaced peoples.
According to Vatican Media, the Holy Year attracted pilgrims primarily from Italy, the United States, Spain, Brazil, and Poland. The pope’s message resonates amid growing concerns about the treatment of immigrants worldwide, as highlighted by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, which has expressed alarm over widespread deportations and their impact on families.
Holy Years, observed roughly every 25 years, offer Catholics a chance to seek pardon and renewal. The next jubilee is anticipated in 2033, potentially marking two millennia since the death of Jesus Christ. Until then, Pope Leo’s call serves as a moral compass, urging the faithful to see beyond borders and economic interests to the shared humanity in every stranger.
“The markets turn human yearnings of seeking, traveling and beginning again into a mere business,” Leo said, underscoring the tension between commerce and compassion. His words echo a broader dialogue within the Church and international community about balancing economic realities with human dignity.
As the world grapples with migration crises and social divisions, Pope Leo’s closing of the Holy Year stands as a poignant reminder of the enduring Christian call to welcome the stranger. His message invites reflection on how societies can better embody kindness and support for all, regardless of origin.
For more on the Catholic Church’s Jubilee tradition, visit the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops website. Additional information on global migration challenges can be found through the Department of Homeland Security’s immigration statistics and humanitarian efforts detailed by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.
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