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CV NEWS FEED // The Vatican has released a statement explaining to the faithful how to obtain plenary indulgences during the Jubilee Year of 2025.
The Vatican’s Office of the Apostolic Penitentiary explained that plenary indulgences remove the temporal punishment (Purgatory time) for sins that have already been forgiven. These indulgences can be applied to souls currently suffering in Purgatory.
During the Jubilee Year, the faithful can obtain up to two plenary indulgences per day for the souls of the faithful departed.
In order to gain a plenary indulgence, the faithful must fulfill the following usual requirements: detachment from all sin, including venial sin, as well as a sacramental confession. One confession can serve for several plenary indulgences (it should be within approximately 20 days of the indulgence.)
Each indulgence must also include the reception of Holy Communion and prayers for the Holy Father’s intentions. Those prayers usually include an Our Father, a Hail Mary, and a Glory Be.
The Vatican states that the faithful can then fulfill one of the following to obtain the indulgence:
I. Make a Pilgrimage to Rome and pray for the Pope’s intentions in any one of the Four Major Papal Basilicas (St. Peter’s Basilica, the Archbasilica of St. John Lateran, St. Mary Major, or St. Paul Outside the Walls) or any of the special Jubilee churches listed by the Apostolic penitentiary in Rome.
II. Make a pilgrimage to one of the following churches in Italy: Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi, Basilica of Our Lady of the Angels in Assisi, Basilica of Our Lady of Loreto Basilica of Our Lady of Pompeii, Basilica in St. Anthony in Padua, or in the Holy Land: Basilica of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem, Basilica of the Nativity in Bethlehem, Basilica of the Annunciation in Nazareth.
III. Perform an extraordinary work of mercy such as a generous gift to the poor, or visiting nursing homes or prisons
IV. Participate in diocesan or parish sponsored spiritual exercises, missions, or formation activities based on the documents of the Second Vatican Council or the Catechism of the Catholic Church.
V. Visit any local Cathedral, Marian Shrine, or other special church designated by the local bishop for obtaining the Jubilee Indulgence
VI. Fasting at least one day a week from “futile distractions” such as social media, television, video games, certain phone apps.
An earlier communication from the Vatican included more details on Jubilee Year indulgences.
