Jubilee 2025: A Call for Global Debt Justice
In 2025, KAIROS will lead a Canadian Ecumenical Jubilee campaign, in step with a global debt relief effort, inspired by the Jubilee tradition from the Book of Leviticus. Rooted in faith, Jubilee calls for the release of debts, liberation from servitude, and the return of seized lands—principles that resonate deeply in today’s world.
Key partners in the Canadian movement include Development and Peace – Caritas Canada and The Canadian Council of Churches.
Some of you may well recall the Millennium Jubilee of 2000, which mobilized millions globally to demand debt cancellation for nations in the Global South. In Canada, this movement took shape as The Canadian Ecumenical Jubilee Initiative, the country’s most successful faith-based advocacy campaign. This powerful campaign, led by church-based justice organizations, KAIROS’ predecessor coalitions, and The Canadian Council of Churches, played a crucial role in achieving over $100 billion in global debt relief.
Yet, 25 years later, a worsening global debt crisis continues to affect vulnerable populations, exacerbated by rising interest rates, climate change, and economic inequality. An unacknowledged “ecological debt” owed by the North to the South and Indigenous Peoples further exasperates the crisis.
As Pope Francis declares 2025 an official Jubilee Year in the Catholic Church, a new international movement is emerging. This campaign aims to:
- Cancel unjust debts.
- Establish a UN-led mechanism for debt resolution.
- Prevent future cycles of crippling debt.
Stay tuned for ways to join KAIROS and its partners in this vital mission to create a more just and sustainable world. Let’s make Jubilee 2025 a year of hope and transformation for all!
