The origins of the Christian Jubilee
We learn how the Christian Jubilee was born, through the proclamation of the Holy Year 1300 by Pope Boniface VIII.
By Andrea Tornielli and Francesca Merlo
Pope Boniface VIII proclaimed the first Jubilee in 1300. The Christian Jubilee is a spiritual reinterpretation of the ancient Hebrew tradition. While the biblical Jubilee focuses on the liberation of slaves, the Christian version offers freedom from sins and the punishment due to sin that must be faced in Purgatory.
There was an atmosphere of anticipation for the start of the new century and Rome was filled with pilgrims. Those who came from outside had to visit St. Peter's and St. Paul's basilicas 15 times each to obtain the indulgence.
This historical event is vividly recounted by the famous pilgrim Dante Alighieri.
