Feast of Christ the King – Theological Description

The Feast of Christ the King, officially known as the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe, is a liturgical celebration that proclaims the universal kingship of Christ. Instituted by Pope Pius XI in 1925 through the encyclical Quas Primas, the feast responds to growing secularism by affirming that Christ reigns not only in the hearts of believers but also over all nations and societies.

Theologically, the feast emphasizes that Jesus Christ is the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end, whose dominion is eternal and whose kingdom is one of truth, justice, love, and peace (cf. Daniel 7:13–14; Revelation 1:5–8). It highlights the paradox of a King crowned with thorns, whose throne is the Cross, and whose victory is won through humility and sacrificial love.

Celebrated on the final Sunday of the liturgical year, it brings the Church’s focus to the fulfillment of God’s kingdom and the return of Christ in glory, inviting believers to submit all aspects of life to His sovereign rule.