THE AUTHORITY OF THE POPE TO PROCLAIM JUBILEE IS BIBLICAL
Question:
What is Jubilee?
Answer:
Jubilee is an occasion where we have the freedom and given the chance to reform ourselves, show our mercy and compassion to others, return the possessions of others, do charitable acts, and most of all, to be happy and our sins and punishments are forgiven by God because of the good things that we can make in connection with this privilege (Lev 25:8-55).
Question:
Where we can find in the Bible that the Pope has the authority to proclaim Jubilee?
Answer:
We have to remember that Christ is the Jubilee (Isa 9:1-7) being mentioned by Prophet Isaiah and Christ is the Jubilee of the New Testament because he is the fulfillment of the law and grace (Mat 5:17, Jn 1:17).
Just as what the Jubilee of the Old Testament had, Jesus also showed his mercy and compassion. Also, he taught us about faith, hope, charity, and also forgives our sins.
Peter and his successors, the Popes, have the authority to proclaim Jubilee because they got their authority from Christ, (Mat 16:18, Lk 22:31-32, Acts 1:20-22) in which Christ is the fulfilled Jubilee that we need to follow (Isa 9:1-7).
Since that Christ is the Jubilee of the New Testament and he gives an authority and power to St. Peter and to his successors, it is understandable that the Popes inherited this authority and power to proclaim Jubilee as an effect and part of the authority entrusted by Christ to them (Mat 28:19-20, Mat 16:18).
Therefore, it is proven that the Pope has the authority to proclaim Jubilee and that is biblical.