Jubilee of Armed Forces: Honoring service, hope and peace in a turbulent world

Over 30,000 military personnel, police officers, veterans, and security forces from around the world are gathering in Rome to participate in the second major Jubilee event of the Holy Year, dedicated to honoring their service and commitment to bringing hope globally.

The two-day event, taking place on February 8-9, will see delegations from more than 100 countries, including Colombia, Australia, Ukraine, the United States, and Indonesia, make a pilgrimage to the Holy Door at St. Peter’s Basilica, enjoy a concert, and conclude with Mass in St. Peter’s Square.

Archbishop Rino Fisichella, Pro-Prefect of the Dicastery for Evangelization, outlined the schedule, emphasizing the event’s focus on peace and the importance of the military's role in contributing to global stability.

Despite Pope Francis being diagnosed with bronchitis, Archbishop Fisichella confirmed that the Pope was still scheduled to preside over Mass on February 9.

The Jubilee event underscores the Holy Year’s theme of hope, peace, and the integral role that armed forces play in peacekeeping efforts worldwide.

Archbishop Fisichella remarked that this Jubilee of the Armed Forces is a reminder of peace, particularly for regions of the world currently experiencing violence and conflict.

Reflecting on the words of Pope Francis in the Jubilee Bull of Indiction, he noted, "Those who become peacemakers can be called children of God," emphasizing that the pursuit of peace requires concrete actions.

The Jubilee calls on military personnel and security forces to not only protect and serve but to also bring peace and hope to areas where suffering and violence prevail.

One significant example of military involvement in peacekeeping is Operation Irini, a European Union mission designed to help support the peace process in Libya.

Lieutenant Colonel Ozren Lukenda of the Croatian Navy, who serves as a Staff Officer in the operation, explained how the military’s work brings hope to those affected by conflict.

"It brings hope to all those affected by atrocities because their wish is peace and nothing but peace," he said.

The operation, involving 23 EU member states, focuses on maintaining maritime security and stopping the illegal trafficking of arms.

Lukenda underscored that "without hope, in any form, we would have nothing." He highlighted the importance of military personnel offering hope to those in areas where peace seems impossible.

For those serving in peacekeeping missions, providing a sense of hope amidst the chaos is an essential part of their mission.

For military men and women who are unable to travel to Rome for the pilgrimage, chapels within foreign missions and military installations around the world have been designated pilgrimage sites.

Fr. Saverio Finotti, Rector of the School of Seminarians for Chaplains in the military city of Cecchignola, Rome, pointed out that these chapels have become "places of pilgrimage" where military personnel can connect spiritually and reflect on their mission of peace.

This ensures that the Jubilee of the Armed Forces extends far beyond Rome, including military personnel serving in remote or conflict zones, who continue their work in bringing hope and peace to those in need.

The Jubilee of the Armed Forces serves as a powerful reminder that the work of military personnel, police, and veterans extends far beyond national borders.

It is a calling to serve the common good, promote peace, and uphold justice in an often turbulent world.

Through events like this, the Catholic Church recognizes their invaluable contribution and invites them to experience the hope and peace that Christ offers, reinforcing the role of the armed forces as essential agents of hope in today’s world.