Many of the greatest and most beloved works of Western art were executed as commissions for Papal Jubilees, sacred years of papal decress during which sins could be pardoned, slaves freed, and debts forgiven. Pope Boniface VIII proclaimed the first Christian Jubilee in 1300, and the tradition continues today. In this exquisite volume, the bounty of this inspired art is faithfully reproduced in the first major art book on the subject. Over the centuries, the greatest artists of the day - including Caravaggio, Bernini, Fra Angelico, Masaccio, Matisse, and Chagall, were chosen to bring their creative vision to this sacred occasion. For Jubilee 2000, Pope John Paul II called upon Roy Lichtenstein, Robert Rauschenberg, and architect Richard Meier for major new works. These new works, along with the brilliant creations that preceded them over the centuries, are gloriously showcased in this stunning tribute that will captivate art loves of all faiths.