Year of Hope
When Pope Francis announced 2025 as a Holy Year he chose as the theme for the year ‘Pilgrims of Hope’. This theme has been reflected in the events being held in Rome to mark the Holy Year, and it has prompted many activities of the Church during this year to explore the notion of being ‘Pilgrims of Hope’.
Recently Archbishop Anthony Fisher addressed a gathering of business leaders in Sydney and chose as the theme for his talk, ‘Signs of Hope’. In the talk he referenced many encouraging signs that there is a resurgence in interest in the Christian faith and increased numbers of people embracing life in the Catholic Church.
He referred to Belgium which had 50 percent more adult baptisms this year than last year. Austria reported an 85 percent year-on-year increase this Easter. In France there were over 17,000 adult and adolescent baptisms this Easter, 45 percent more than last year.
In the UK the Bible Society reports that Christian affiliation has grown significantly between 2018 and 2024. In this survey, as is the case in other countries, the largest growth is among young adults aged 18-24. The Catholic diocese of Westminster welcomed 500 adults this Easter, as did the diocese of Southwark. Among Gen Z, Catholics in Britain now outnumber Anglicans by two or three to one.
The United States sees similar trends. Los Angeles alone welcomed 5,500 new Catholics this Easter, while Notre Dame University had the biggest number ever in the RCIA. All these reports indicate new and high levels of people wanting to participate in the life of the Church. There is something of a new spring in the air.
It is interesting to notice that following Pope Francis’ death, Google reported a 373 percent increase in the search ‘How to become Catholic?’ Many of those drawn to the Church speak of seeking new meaning for their life in the face of an emptiness experienced in contemporary culture. Others speak of being drawn by the beauty and sacredness of the liturgy of the Catholic Church. For some it is simply a desire to find community in the midst of a soulless society.
These are all encouraging ‘signs of hope’. Yet hope itself, by definition, is trusting and believing despite what may be in evidence around us. Hope is a Christian virtue which is grounded in a belief that God is the author and sustainer of all life and the one and final source of salvation.
At the Last Supper, knowing that his disciples were about to be confused and disillusioned by his upcoming passion and death, the Lord said to them, “Trust in God still and trust in me” (Jn 14:1). This is ultimately where the virtue of hope is to be found and nourished. It is in trusting in God.
This year we are invited to be ‘Pilgrims of Hope’. The evident signs of hope around the world can further foster a deep inner hope for the future of the Church and for the betterment of humanity.