Originally published at National Catholic Register
‘I exhort particular Churches, starting from the upcoming 2025 Jubilee, to remember and honor these figures of holiness each year,’ Pope Francis wrote.
Pope Francis wants dioceses worldwide to shine a spotlight on their “saints next door” every year on Nov. 9.
In a letter released by the Vatican in Italian on Saturday, the Pope established an annual commemoration of saints, blessed, venerables, and servants of God in local dioceses worldwide, set to begin with the upcoming Jubilee.
“I exhort particular Churches, starting from the upcoming 2025 Jubilee, to remember and honor these figures of holiness each year,” Pope Francis wrote.
The initiative aims to help Catholics around the world rediscover and maintain the memory of those extraordinary disciples of Christ who have witnessed the presence of the risen Lord and continue to guide the faithful in those dioceses today.
He signed the letter at St. John Lateran on Nov. 9, 2024, the feast day of the basilica’s dedication.
While the pontiff chose this feast day for the yearly remembrance, he emphasized that he was not adding another liturgical celebration to the Church calendar.
Instead, he explained, the Pope called on local dioceses to promote appropriate initiatives outside the
