Why the Jubilee year should inspire Catholics to take action on debt

Susan Gunn, Director at Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns, explains how the Jubilee year can inspire Catholics to take action on the global debt crisis.

I still remember taking part in the Jubilee 2000 campaign - a global movement grounded in the belief that another world is possible, one marked by justice, renewal and solidarity. That conviction has deep biblical roots in the concept of the Jubilee year.

As outlined in Leviticus 25 and Deuteronomy 15, the Jubilee year was a time of restoration: land was returned, debts were cancelled, and slaves were set free. It provided a fresh start for those who had fallen into hardship, and it reminded the powerful that everything ultimately belongs to God. Jubilee was not just an economic reset, it was a moral one.

Jesus reaffirmed this tradition when He launched His public ministry, proclaiming liberty for captives and good news for the poor (Luke 4:18, referencing Isaiah 61). The Jubilee message is central to the Gospel. It is a call to build the beloved community through justice, mercy and equality.

As we approach Jubilee 2025, the world is once again facing a global debt crisis. For many countries, debt repayments come at the cost of basic human needs like healthcare, education and climate resilience. Catholic Social Teaching provides a powerful lens through which to understand this crisis and respond with action.

Five foundational principles help guide us:

1. Life and dignity of the human person

Each human life is sacred. When debt deepens poverty and suffering, this principle is violated.

2. The common good

We are called to build a society where all can thrive. Unjust debt hinders this by draining public resources.

3. Solidarity

We are one global family. Solidarity means standing with our brothers and sisters across borders to promote justice.

4. Preferential option for the poor

Those most affected by debt, especially the poor, must be at the centre of our concern and action.

5. Care for Creation

Environmental degradation often follows when indebted countries are forced to exploit natural resources to repay loans.

Catholic Social Teaching also emphasises justice. Debt relief is not simply charity - it is a matter of right relationship between nations, a step toward economic structures that allow everyone to flourish.

Jubilee 2025 is a chance for Catholics to act in faith and hope, rooted in Scripture and committed to justice. Let us once again be a voice for the poor and a sign of God's liberating love in the world.