The Relay of Hope is a symbolic gesture on a global scale proposed by Caritas Internationalis as part of the Turn Debt into Hope campaign for the 2025 Jubilee. Inspired by the Olympic torch, this candle-lighting activity reflects our shared mission to spread light, life and hope. Rooted in the official Jubilee theme of Pilgrims of Hope, the Relay of Hope will connect communities worldwide and symbolize our unity and solidarity in calling for debt and economic justice.
This gesture was chosen because light represents hope that the Jubilee principles will inspire much-needed change. The relay signifies the Caritas family and wider global community journeying collectively to spiritual and social transformation. Each lit candle represents a call to action for debt justice and turning debt into hope.
Here is when and how to organize a Relay of Hope.
The relay can take place in person or online.
1. Plan your event
Determine the date and time of your event, ideally between Saturday May 24 and Wednesday May 28, and prepare the invitations.
Choose a meaningful place like a church, community centre or outdoor space.
Use the Relay of Hope images and banners to promote your event on social media or to announce the event in your parish bulletin beforehand.
2. During the event
Share information about the campaign, ask them to sign the petition, ensure that everyone has a candle and give them a campaign sticker (optional) to put on their candle or clothing.
Say also why it is taking place on the 10th anniversary of Laudato Si’. Talk about the message of the global Turn Debt into Hope campaign, which calls for debt justice and economic transformation. Emphasize that each lit candle will represent a call to action for debt justice.
Have people line up side-by-side or a stand in an inward-facing circle with their unlit candles in their hands. Explain that the flame will be shared from one candle to the next.
– Instruct people to say “Turn Debt into Hope” out aloud (or a prayer or wish of no more than a few words for the easing of poor countries’ debts) when lighting their candles.
– Light the first person’s candle and have them pass the flame on to the next person’s candle, and so on.
– Continue until all the candles are lit.
Reiterate the importance of acting in this Jubilee Year to cancel the unjust debts of countries that will never be able to repay them.
– Use or adapt the short talk to sign the petition to invite people once again to sign the petition (on paper or online at devp.org/debt) and ask them to share it in their networks.
– Conclude the event with a moment of reflection by reading the campaign’s Prayer for wisdom and justice in addressing external debt.
3. After the event
To show the scale of this movement, send us your photos, videos and testimonials. We can post them on the social media pages of Development and Peace — Caritas Canada, KAIROS Canada, Caritas Internationalis and other organizations. To illustrate the universality of the campaign, Caritas Internationalis will also create a world map showing where Relays of Hope have taken place.
– Email your photos and videos to comms@devp.org or upload them here.
1. Prepare your publication
2. Share your post
To promote the Relay of Hope here and around the world, we need story examples from our members in Canada.
Feel free to send us your video in advance so that we can create a promotional compilation on our social media. Please send your videos to comms@devp.org or upload them here.
“In the spirit of this Jubilee Year, I urge the international community to work towards forgiving foreign debt in recognition of the ecological debt existing between the North and the South of this world. This is an appeal for solidarity, but above all for justice.”
About us
Our work
Get involved
Ways to give
Resources
Get in touch
555 René-Lévesque Blvd. West, 8th Floor
Montreal (Quebec) Canada H2Z 1B1
Phone: 514-257-8711
Toll-free: 1-888-234-8533
Fax: 514-257-8497
Email: info@devp.org
Charity number: 1 1882 9902 RR 0001
Our international cooperation program is carried out in part with the financial support of the Government of Canada acting through Global Affairs Canada.
Development and Peace — Caritas Canada is the official international solidarity organization of the Catholic Church in Canada and the Canadian member of Caritas Internationalis.
Copyrights © 2025
Don’t miss anything about the work of our international partners or our awareness and mobilization campaigns.
Sign up now for our newsletter.
