AMECEA: Cleric Explains the Meaning of Jubilee Logo 2025, to Communication Coordinators
Sr. Jecinter Antoinette Okoth, FSSA
Ahead of the Jubilee year 2025 in the catholic Church which will begin on December 24, 2024, with the official Opening of the Holy Door of Saint Peter’s Basilica, and runs to January 6, 2026, the Feast Day of Epiphany, with the Closing of the Holy Door, a cleric has explained to communication coordinators from the Association of Member Episcopal Conferences of Eastern Africa (AMECEA) region what the logo means in relation to the jubilee’s theme.
The year-long theme for the Jubilee is centered on “Pilgrims of Hope,” which the Holy Father Pope Francis reflected on from St. Paul’s letter to the Romans that “Hope does not disappoint” (Rom 5:5). Thus, the people of God are expected to embrace hope, mercy, and fraternity.
In his narration to the communication coordinators from the AMECEA countries who gathered in Nairobi, Kenya for the annual planning meeting, Fr. Andrew Kaufa the regional Communication coordinator highlighted that the logo has four figures in four colours; red, orange, green, and blue representing all of humanity, coming from the four corners of the earth (North, South, East and west).
These four figures are designed embracing each other, depicting the solidarity and brotherhood that should unite the peoples of the world. They (figures) further hold unto a curved cross that bends towards humanity with an anchor at the bottom.
In an earlier explanation by the Vatican official Monsignor Rino Fisichella, pro-prefect of the Dicastery for Evangelization, when the logo was unveiled, “the anchor has often been used as a metaphor for hope. The anchor of hope is the name given in sea-faring jargon to the reserve anchor which is used by vessels to perform emergency manoeuvres to stabilize the ship during storms.”
Thus, according to the Vatican Official in his earlier explanation, “it is precisely in the most difficult moments that we need to rely on an anchor that gives us security and guarantees salvation.”
The logo also has rough waves under the four figures. This signifies that life’s pilgrimage has its challenges and normally not smoothly always. “Often the circumstances of daily life and events in the wider world require a greater call to hope.”
The Jubilee 2025 logo was authored by a young graphic designer from Puglia, Giacomo Trevisani. He narrated his graphic choice and the study behind the creation of the logo with the words: “I imagined people of every colour moving from every part of the earth towards a common future, and towards a Cross that is Jesus himself. I imagined the Pope leading humanity through a Cross that becomes an anchor, and us clinging to him, symbolizing pilgrims of all time.”
