Jubilee Year: Children and young people pledge to ‘build a better world’

This summer, hundreds of Catholic schools across England and Wales are joining together as ‘signs of hope’ in a nationwide effort to make a long-term commitment to stand in solidarity with communities experiencing poverty.

Pope Francis called on us to be “Pilgrims of Hope” in this Jubilee Year, to build a better world for everyone, experiencing the joy which comes from taking action together. Schools have been taking part in activities and prayerful reflection to consider how they can be ‘signs of hope’. From displaying banners, fundraising during Lent, organising pilgrimage walks, to taking the Jubilee debt campaign action, children and young people have been living out Catholic Social Teaching.

The Jubilee Pledge

Pope Leo XIV’s ministry began in the heart of this Jubilee Year and he said it was “devoted in a particular way to hope, a time of conversion and renewal”. This summer, Catholic schools are going even further in this period of renewal, making ‘Jubilee Pledges’ to advance justice and harmony locally, nationally and globally.

“We are pilgrims of hope. We walk in solidarity with our sisters and brothers worldwide, sharing challenges and celebrating joys. We promise to be agents of change, working together for justice, love and peace, locally and globally.

"We want to build a fairer world, where every person, and the earth, can flourish.”

St Mary's Catholic Academy in Blackpool pledge to live out the Jubilee values of hope, justice, peace and dignity in their daily school life. Their pledge includes incorporating weekly peace prayers in tutor time, linking with local charities and global issues, and organising a yearly Refugee Week focusing on social justice.

Several dioceses such as Arundel & Brighton, Westminster and Portsmouth have chosen a single day to celebrate their schools having made the Jubilee Pledge.

Monica Conmee, CAFOD’s Head of Education, said:

“We are delighted to see whole school communities making a long-term pledge to live out Catholic Social Teaching and build a better world for everyone.”

Building a better world together

A better world needs all of us. The Jubilee Pledges symbolise hope and renewal and are whole school, long-term commitments to take concrete actions to build a fairer world, just as Pope Francis asked us, and Pope Leo calls us, to do.

• Multimedia resources and staff training are available for schools to support the Jubilee Pledge and Pledge Days, courtesy of CAFOD, the Catholic Education Service and Caritas Social Action Network.

• Schools that contribute to the online Pledge map will receive a Jubilee Pledge certificate, as a reminder of their long-term commitment to justice, peace and love.