The 150th anniversary of the laying of the first stone of the Sacré-Cœur Basilica in Paris is being marked with the start of an extraordinary jubilee celebration. On June 16, 1875, construction began on the iconic basilica situated on Montmartre hill, a moment famously described by Émile Zola as a “stone host placed over the open wound of the city.” Today, the site continues to serve as a place of devotion and spiritual unity.
To begin the jubilee, about one hundred families gathered on Sunday, June 15, to consecrate themselves to the Sacred Heart of Jesus in a prayer ceremony. During the 11 a.m. Mass, the rector of the shrine, Father Stéphane Esclef, delivered an apostolic blessing granted by Pope Leo XIV. According to Father Esclef, the blessing was obtained through a formal request to the Vatican, and he described it as a moment of great grace. Attendees of the Mass had the opportunity to receive a plenary indulgence, provided they fulfilled the conditions set by the Vatican: confession, receiving Communion, praying for the intentions of the Pope, and maintaining detachment from sin.
The Sacré-Cœur is one of the official jubilee shrines designated for the 2025 Ordinary Jubilee, themed “Pilgrims of Hope.” Pilgrims have been making their way to the basilica since December 2024 to take part in the spiritual offerings connected to the jubilee. The Mass on June 15, with its apostolic blessing, was highlighted as a particularly meaningful event.
The year 2025 also marks the 140th anniversary of perpetual adoration of the Blessed Sacrament at Sacré-Cœur. To honor this milestone, the basilica will host a novena of prayer from July 24 to August 1. Over nine days, 140 individuals will keep vigil over the Blessed Sacrament, continuously exposed in the basilica. Father Esclef noted that this initiative is a challenge the community has set for itself, and he expressed hope that it would be achieved.
On August 1, the anniversary will be commemorated with a special vigil presided over by Archbishop Christophe Pierre, the Apostolic Nuncio to the United States. The vigil will include a renewed consecration to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and a second apostolic blessing. Father Esclef will then step outside to the front of the basilica to bless the city of Paris, the nation of France, and the world—what he described as a “blessing of peace and love,” which he said is what matters most in the current times.
While the Sacré-Cœur is often admired for its architecture, Father Esclef emphasized that it is above all a house of prayer and a home for the people of God. The basilica’s large mosaic, created by artist Lucien Magne, features five women and children representing the continents, united in devotion to the Heart of Christ. Today, the basilica continues to welcome people from across the world, each one seeking something personal, yet all finding the same message of a loving heart open to all.
