The Christmas celebration, with the opening of the Holy Door of St. Peter's Basilica, marked the beginning of the Ordinary Jubilee of 2025, the Year of Hope, under the motto Pilgrims of Hope . In his letter of invitation to celebrate the Jubilee, Spes non confundit ("hope does not disappoint", Rom. 5,5), Pope Francis reminds us that "hope must be granted to the billions of poor people who often lack the essentials to live" and that "the goods of the Earth are not intended for a privileged few, but for everyone."

Inspired by this profound call for justice, Caritas Internationalis, together with faith-based and civil society organizations, launched the 'Transform Debt into Hope' campaign, a transformative initiative aimed at addressing the debt crisis that threatens billions of people around the world. Together, we call on decision-makers to prioritize people and planet over mere profit.

Restore dignity and hope

Unsustainable and unfair public debts strip nations of the resources needed to invest in health, education, climate action and the future of youth, locking entire generations in cycles of poverty and inequality. This forces us to demand justice for communities crushed by unjust and unpayable debts. As the Holy Father writes, “if we truly want to prepare the path of peace in the world, let us strive to remedy the causes that give rise to injustice, cancel unjust and unpaid debts” (Spes non confundit, 16).

Rooted in the spirit of the Year of Jubilee 2025 - "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me (...) to proclaim liberation to the captives"(Luke 4:18) - and Pope Francis' exhortation to combat inequality, the campaign advocates for debt justice and systemic reform as an indispensable step to restore dignity and hope to communities overwhelmed by unsustainable debt.

The president of Caritas Internationalis, Monsignor Tarcisio Isao Cardinal Kikuchi, underlines the urgency of campaign: "Debt is not just an economic burden, it is a moral crisis. The Jubilee tradition exhorts us to act with compassion, restoring hope to those oppressed by debt. As we enter the Jubilee Year, we must transform debt into opportunities for justice and renewal."

The advocacy calls:

1. Stop the debt crisis now by canceling and remedying unjust and unsustainable debts, without policy conditions
2. Prevent debt crises from recurring by addressing their root causes, reforming the global financial system to put people and planet first.
3. Establish a permanent, transparent, binding and global debt framework within the United Nations.

Sign the petitionto turn debt into hope. By signing the petition you will become part of a global call to turn debt into hope. Opt-in to receive updates to see how your firm will help drive change in 2025 and beyond. Together, let us answer the call for a more just and compassionate world.