As the year draws to a close and people of many faiths around the world prepare for a season of reflection, renewal, and generosity, the Catholic Church marks another jubilee — a time marked by forgiveness, restoration, and social justice celebrated every 25 years. Historically, during the jubilee year, slaves were liberated, land acquired was returned to its original owners, and debts were forgiven. In essence, the jubilee served as a “reset button” that the Catholic Church advocated to give people a fresh start.
This reset button can be a powerful economic and moral tool. The most recent jubilee, in 2000, led to the largest debt forgiveness in modern history. Advocated by Pope John Paul II, 36 countries collectively received $76…