When Pope Leo XIV was introduced to the world last spring as our new Holy Father, his first words set a clear and hopeful tone. He expressed immediate gratitude for his predecessor, Pope Francis, who represented the spirit of St. Francis of Assisi so beautifully during his papacy.
From the very beginning, Pope Leo made it clear that his pontificate would be grounded in communion, humility and unity – all the virtues for which St. Francis stood.
That hopeful thought has now become distinct action, with Pope Leo’s announcement of a special Jubilee Year commemorating the 800th anniversary of the passing – or what we call the transitus – of St. Francis. This declaration is a moment of great joy and thanksgiving for Franciscan communities throughout the world, and especially for us, the Franciscan Friars of the Atonement here at Graymoor.
This Franciscan Jubilee follows the Church’s universal Jubilee, which concluded at the beginning of the year, on the Feast of the Epiphany. The Franciscan Jubilee observance began on January 10, 2026, and will conclude on January 10, 2027, offering the faithful a full year to reflect on the enduring legacy of St. Francis.
The Franciscan Jubilee Year invites the entire Church to pause, reflect and renew itself through the witness of St. Francis, whose life and message continue to resonate through generations. St. Francis embraced poverty and peace. He cared for all of God’s creation. He never sought to escape from the world, but lived in harmony with it, finding beauty in everything around him. All the while, St. Francis proclaimed the Gospel with his every breath.
Born into wealth as the son of an Umbrian merchant, St. Francis renounced comfort, status and inheritance to follow Jesus. His holiness was marked by compassion, most memorably in his encounter with the wolf of Gubbio, where mercy overcame fear and restored peace.
St. Francis’ witness also inspired many others to embrace the Gospel more fully. His life of joyful poverty moved Clare of Assisi to leave her own privileged background and follow Christ, founding the Poor Clares and carrying the Franciscan spirit forward.
For the Franciscan Friars of the Atonement, this Jubilee resonates deeply with our charism. St. Francis’ call to rebuild the Church, first in spirit, then in structure, echoes powerfully in our mission of At-One-Ment; of seeking healing and unity. St. Francis’ insistence on fraternity, even amid division, matches our ongoing commitment to ecumenical and interreligious dialogue, a commitment Pope Leo himself emphasized when he spoke of bridge-building at the beginning of his papacy.
By proclaiming this Franciscan Jubilee Year, Pope Leo offers the Church more than an historical commemoration. He extends an invitation: to rediscover the simplicity of the Gospel, to listen more attentively to one another and to become instruments of peace in a world that seemingly grows more fractured by the day. In a time marked by polarization and unrest, the Franciscan vision feels not only relevant, but urgently needed.
Throughout this Franciscan Jubilee Year, we are encouraged to consider how the spirit of St. Francis can be carried out in our daily lives: through care for the poor, reverence for creation and a renewed commitment to unity among all God’s people. It is a time of prayer, conversion of heart and joyful witness.
The Franciscan Friars of the Atonement welcome this Jubilee Year with open arms and incredible gratitude. We rejoice in Pope Leo’s affirmation of the Franciscan legacy and in his call for the Church to walk the path of humility, dialogue and peace.
May this sacred year inspire the hearts of all people across the globe, and may the witness of St. Francis continue to guide us toward deeper unity with God and with one another.