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A Gathering at Castel Gandolfo
From 28 to 30 November, Castel Gandolfo shall host a splendid gathering titled ‘Restarting the Economy’. Promoted by The Economy of Francesco, this global meeting will endeavour to rethink the economy in light of the Jubilee. The focus shall be on social justice, care for the Earth, and liberation from debt.
Reflecting on Transformation
It is November, the eleventh month of the Jubilee Year heralded by Pope Francis. Under the noble motto Spes non confundit—“hope does not disappoint” (Rom 5:5), the invitation is to become pilgrims of hope. This message is powerful and necessary, especially as defeatist narratives about our future seem widespread.
We have witnessed many transformations since the opening of the Holy Door on 24 December 2024. While political actors and modes of communication shift, issues like inequality and exploitation persist. Thus, the Jubilee represents a chance for renewal, urging us to desist from replicating exclusive paradigms.
Pope Francis continues to emphasise the need for change. On 1 May 2019, he called upon the youth to transform today’s economy into tomorrow’s.
The Essence of Active Rest
At the heart of the Jubilee lies active rest, distinct from mere inertia. Its origins trace back to the Hebrew Jubilee, every fifty years, demanding land rest, property restoration, and slave liberation (Lev 25:10). These actions reveal the Jubilee signs—land, freedom, forgiveness—rooted in the ethic of care. Despite the clamour for change, this wisdom remains pertinent.
Isaiah captures these ideas (Isa 61:1–2), and Jesus embodies them, declaring the fulfilment of “the year of the Lord’s favour” (cf. Lk 4:18–19). Such notions call us to live with a renewed covenant with the world.
The Value of Rest and Renewal
Mindful rest—shabbat, the act of “ceasing”—remains essential to our lives. This concept is grounded in the Torah’s Sabbath, the seventh day of Creation when God rested. The Shemittah, or sabbatical year, saw the land left fallow, benefitting the poor, foreigners, and animals.
Stopping becomes an opportunity for transformation. Without this break, how might we imagine changing our habits or the world? The Jubilee serves as an evocative call for a sabbath of the world, a suspension reminding us of a renewed partnership with creation.
The Path to a Renewed Covenant
The Ordinary Jubilee ends with the closing of the Holy Door on 6 January 2026. This symbolic deadline urges us to take responsibility for the remaining time. It is both a deadline and an invitation to recognise that time still exists for the earth, freedom, and forgiveness.
If you have not yet done so:
- Stop.
- Breathe.
- Rest.
Forward Momentum
While we contemplate this period of reflection, remember that moments like these allow us to reset. The promise lies in the actions we choose, prompted by faith and hope for a better tomorrow.
For further insights, explore the Economy of Francesco and delve deeper into these themes of global significance.
