By Christina Bagaglio Slentz
“To all who read this, may hope fill your hearts!”
So began Pope Francis’ papal bull, or official document, announcing the 2025 Jubilee Year with the title “Spes Non Confundit” (“Hope Does Not Disappoint”). Its title is taken from Romans 5:5.
Francis quickly turns his attention to “all those pilgrims of hope,” whom he recognizes will journey to Holy Doors to experience a personal encounter with Jesus, the “‘door’ of our salvation.” Francis references John 10:7-9, in which Jesus proclaims that he is the gate through which all will find pasture.
Whether a traveler to Rome, a visitor to our diocesan Jubilee churches (St. Joseph’s Cathedral in San Diego or St. Margaret Mary Church in Brawley), a participant in a pilgrimage, or simply one who journeyed in prayer this year, you, too, have been a Jubilee Pilgrim of Hope, pressing on toward Jesus in 2025. Moreover, the good news is, though our Jubilee now comes to a close, our choice to continue to act in hope does not.
Christian hope and creation as a sign of hope
In her article “Living as People of Hope: A Reflection on Season of Creation,” Sister Carolyn McWatters, RSM, contrasts our “small hopes” (I hope we have spaghetti tonight, I hope I can find a parking spot, I hope my team makes it to the playoffs, etc.) with BIG hopes (like hoping for peace, that none will go hungry, that families will live in safety, that our planet will be a healthy home for future generations). These “BIG hopes” are the kind “which fix our gaze on something much deeper and more future-oriented … that stir our souls … hopes that perhaps we would stake our lives on.” These “BIG hopes” reflect Christian hope, she explains, one of the three theological virtues, meaning they are connected to God and reflect our understanding of God’s love for us and promise that all peoples and all of creation will one day be redeemed.
At times, darkness can overwhelm our hopefulness, but creation offers encouragement. As we celebrate the Christmas season, for example, families enjoy the beauty of an EVER-green Christmas tree. Unlike deciduous trees that lose their leaves, evergreens reveal life persisting even when the world seems barren and lifeless. Similarly, at this time of year, the winter solstice marks the planetary moment when the angle of the earth relative to the sun shifts, resulting in days increasingly filled with light. It’s no small coincidence that a few days later, the manger in the creche, empty throughout Advent, finally cradles the baby Jesus — Emmanuel, God with Us — surrounded by warm animals and illuminated by the Star of Bethlehem.
Creation repeatedly reminds us of the promise of rebirth, growth and the opportunity to become something more, made possible by God’s love. Sister Carolyn argues that knowing we are so loved brings a sense of peace and security to our souls, boosting our confidence and leaving us more likely to take risks and attempt new things. Filled with hopefulness, we can be “steadfast in the midst of adversity.”
What is your hope for creation?
A major transition in 2025 was saying good-bye to Pope Francis and welcoming Pope Leo XIV. Shortly after becoming pope, Pope Leo released his message for the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation entitled “Seeds of Peace and Hope.” It echoes the call of Pope Francis to care for our common home and recognizes environmental justice as “a duty born of faith.” He explains, “In a world where the most vulnerable of our brothers and sisters are the first to suffer the devastating effects of climate change, deforestation and pollution, care for creation becomes an expression of our faith and humanity.” He closes praying that we, the seeds planted, “may bring forth peace and hope” — a call to be steadfast in the midst of adversity indeed!
Some dismissively say, “Hope is not a strategy,” arguing that hope alone cannot accomplish anything. But without hope, certainly nothing will be accomplished. This mentality reduces hope to simply wishing — those small hopes. Christian hope, on the other hand, is deeply rooted in a rich faith life and an active choice to nourish it, just like pilgrims who physically push themselves as they spiritually move closer and closer to Jesus. Such hope makes all things possible. How will you translate this Christian hope into action between now and the next Jubilee? The new year is always a good time to start!
