Pastoral Letter Promulgating the Jubilee

In Catholic parlance, a Jubilee is a special year of remission of sins and universal pardon. There was much unrest in Italy during the papacy of Pius IX, leading to his temporary exile. This, the fifth Jubilee he announced was, as his letter to the clergy states, "to awaken the attention of all Christendom to the torrent of pestilent errors, which are now prevailing, and threatening to overwhelm the Church, and along with it, all civil society; and to unite all the faithful followers of Christ in one general and earnest supplication to God, that He would mercifully interpose to control the storm, and avert the impending danger."