Carry Jubilee Year of Hope Spirit into the Future, Catholic Bishops in Zambia at Conclusion on Yearlong Celebrations

“We stand at the threshold of a new chapter, fortified by a renewed commitment to embody the lessons learned and the abundant graces received,” they say.

“Our mission is to be perpetual beacons of kindness, compassion, and unwavering trust in God's promises, illuminating the path for others who walk with us as fellow pilgrims on this earth,” the ZCCB members say.

The Bishops also reflect on the year-long spiritual activity, which Pope Leo XIV is set to officially conclude with the closing of the Holy Door of St. Peter’s Basilica on 6 January 2026.

They describe the activity as “a moment of grace that enthused all of us to have a genuine and personal encounter with our Lord Jesus Christ, the true 'door' of our salvation.”

“It has been a holy pilgrimage; a time of grace, healing, and recommitment to the Gospel of Hope. We have journeyed together as a People of God; renewed in the spirit and recommitted to the mission of proclaiming hope to a world in need,” the Catholic Church leaders in Zambia note.

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The ZCCB members acknowledge the impact of the Jubilee Year of Hope, noting that the celebration has reawakened vitality through a heightened sacramental life, as seen in increased attendance and participation in the Sacraments of Reconciliation and the Holy Eucharist in Parishes.

They express gratitude to God for journeying with the Church in Zambia and for His abundant blessings upon the people under their pastoral care during the Jubilee Year.

“ZCCB wishes to celebrate the closing of the Jubilee Year of Hope at the national level, with gratitude to God who has journeyed with the Church in Zambia and bestowed abundant blessings during this sacred season,” they say in their nine-page Pastoral Letter.

They further entrust the Southern African nation “to the maternal care of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of Hope, and to the protection of our nation's Patron Saints Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael the Archangels.”

“May the Almighty God strengthen our hope, deepen our love, and guide our steps in peace as we make this pilgrimage of Hope that does not disappoint us,” the Zambia Catholic Bishops implored.