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The Archdiocese of Toronto Jubilee Pilgrimage featured multiple spiritual experiences in St. Peter’s Square. Cardinal Francis Leo came down before the general papal audience on Nov. 12 to snap a group photo.
Emanuel Pires/Archdiocese of Toronto
December 18, 2025
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Cardinal Frank Leo will conclude the Archdiocese of Toronto’s commemoration of the Jubilee Year with a closing Mass on Dec. 28 at St. Michael’s Cathedral Basilica, starting at 5 p.m.
While the Jubilee may be coming to a close, in a letter to the faithful, the shepherd of Canada’s most populous Catholic community expressed hope that the spirit of the Jubilee carries forth into 2026 and beyond.
“I am eternally grateful for the fruits of our labour and pray that this Jubilee Year has stirred and nurtured the seeds of faith within each one of us and sparked a joy and love of our Lord and our faith that will continue beyond a designated year, accompanying us in our daily spiritual journey,” Leo wrote.
Since the opening Mass on Dec. 29, 2024, the Archdiocese of Toronto has buzzed with Jubilee celebrations and activities.
Throughout early 2025, Leo was accompanied by the archdiocese's auxiliary bishops for special regional liturgical services at parishes designated as Jubilee pilgrimage churches.
On Aug. 24, he presided over a spiritual celebration at the Martyrs’ Shrine in Midland, Ont., that attracted over 4,000 people. That day provided an opportunity for the Sacrament of Reconciliation, Holy Mass, a Rosary procession, Eucharistic Adoration and Benediction.
Most ambitiously, Leo led a contingent of more than 100 Toronto pilgrims in Rome and Assisi in November for a special pilgrimage. Participants ventured through the Holy Doors of the four major papal basilicas, they observed the tombs of St. Francis of Assisi, St. Clare of Assisi and St. Carlo Acutis, and they participated in the Jubilee Eucharistic Celebration for the Poor, among a host of other activities.
Leo acknowledged in his letter that “many parishes, schools, lay movements, clergy and consecrated persons also organized special Jubilee Year celebrations, speakers, events and social outreach activities to bring the gift of hope to those in our midst.”
The 54-year-old native of Montreal also expressed he is “particularly moved” by how many Toronto Pilgrims of Hope participated in Reconciliation throughout the year. Before the 5 p.m. closing Mass at St. Michael’s, the sacrament will be offered from 3:30 to 4:45 p.m.
The official ending of the Jubilee Year at the Vatican will be Jan. 6, the feast of the Epiphany of Our Lord, with the closing of the Holy Door at St. Peter’s Basilica. There will be a Holy Mass to celebrate the occasion. The Holy Door at St. Mary Major, St. John Lateran and St. Paul Outside the Walls Basilica is scheduled for Dec. 25, Dec. 27 and Dec. 28, respectively.
(Amundson is an associate editor and writer for The Catholic Register.)
A version of this story appeared in the December 28, 2025, issue of The Catholic Registerwith the headline "Jubilee Mass to bring year to a close in Toronto".
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