Diocesan News
POPE Leo XIV has proclaimed 2026 The Year of St Francis.
The Vatican has announced plenary indulgences for the Year of Saint Francis, a special Jubilee declared by Pope Leo XIV to mark the 800th anniversary of the death of Saint Francis of Assisi, running from January 10, 2026 to January 10, 2027.
Bishop Krzysztof Nykiel, Regent of the Apostolic Penitentiary, said the indulgence should not be seen as a “spiritual shortcut,” emphasizing that it represents “an encounter with God,” not a mechanical dispenser of grace. He warned against “spiritual fatigue” following the 2025 Jubilee, urging the faithful to deepen—not multiply—their religious practices.
To receive the indulgence, Catholics must fulfil the usual conditions: confession, Communion, prayer for the Pope’s intentions, detachment from sin, and a designated act such as a pilgrimage to a Franciscan church or works of charity in the spirit of Saint Francis. The decree also accommodates the sick and elderly, allowing them to participate spiritually from home.
Bishop Nykiel said Saint Francis’ life offers a message urgently needed today—simplicity, solidarity with the poor, interior peace, and a faith lived through concrete actions. The Jubilee, he added, should move believers from “spectacular celebration to daily imitation,” helping them grow in maturity and genuine conversion.
“St Francis continues to speak” – Pope Leo XIV
Proclaiming the Special Year, Pope Leo XIV said St Francis still speaks to a world marked by war and division – not through solutions, but through a life that points to the true source of peace. Recalling Francis’ greeting, “May the Lord give you peace,” the Pope said peace is God’s gift, embracing peace with God, with one another, and with all creation.
The Special Year commemorates the Transit of St Francis, who died in 1226 after a life radically shaped by the Gospel. His witness of humility, mercy and love for the poor continues to inspire the Church to live the Gospel with joy and courage today.
This Year of Grace follows the Ordinary Jubilee of 2025 and invites the faithful to allow the hope they have received to be transformed into active charity, reconciliation and peace.
Image: Statue of St Francis of Assisi, St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Melbourne. Crisco 1492, CC BY-SA 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons