MARCH 2020



"Currently the whole of humanity is threatened by an invisible and insidious disease, which has become part of all our lives, it is marked day after day by anguished fears, new uncertainties and above all widespread physical and moral suffering. Pope Francis, has shown his paternal closeness and renewed his invitation to pray incessantly for those who are sick with the Coronavirus."  Mauro Cardinal Piacenza (Major Penitentiary)


 

Given the current world epidemic, Pope Francis has granted a wide-ranging Plenary Indulgence (Decree of the Apostolic Penitentiary) for all those with Covid-19; those involved in the care of the sick; and for all the faithful who pray for those afflicted with the virus; those who have died from it; and for an end to the pandemic. 

To the faithful who are suffering from coronavirus:
The Plenary Indulgence is granted to the faithful suffering from Coronavirus, who are subject to quarantine by order of the health authority in hospitals or in their own homes if, with a spirit detached from any sin, they unite spiritually through the media to:
* the celebration of Holy Mass
* recitation of the Holy Rosary
* pious exercise of the Way of the Cross, or the recitation of the Chaplet of Divine Mercy 
*or, if at least they will recite the Creed, the Lord's Prayer and a pious invocation to the Blessed 
  Virgin Mary, offering this trial in a spirit of faith in God and charity towards their brothers and
  sisters, with the will to fulfil the usual conditions (sacramental confession, Eucharistic communion
  and prayer according to the Holy Father's intentions), as soon as possible.

To Health Care Workers, Family Members and those caring for Sufferers:
Health care workers, family members and all those who, following the example of the Good Samaritan, exposing themselves to the risk of contagion, care for the sick of Coronavirus according to the words of the divine Redeemer: Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends ( Jn 15:13), will obtain the same gift of the  Plenary Indulgence under the same conditions.

To the Faithful:
This Apostolic Penitentiary also willingly grants a Plenary Indulgence under the same conditions on the occasion of the current world epidemic, to those faithful who offer

* a visit to the Blessed Sacrament,
* or Eucharistic adoration,
* or reading the Holy Scriptures for at least half an hour,
* or the recitation of the Holy Rosary,
* or the pious exercise of the Way of the Cross,
* or the recitation of the Chaplet of Divine Mercy

to implore from Almighty God the end of the epidemic, relief for those who are afflicted and eternal salvation for those whom the Lord has called to Himself.

The faithful offer this trial in a spirit of faith in God and charity towards their brothers and sisters, with the will to fulfil the usual conditions (sacramental confession, Eucharistic communion and prayer according to the Holy Father's intentions), as soon as possible.  

For Sufferers Unable to receive the Sacrament of the Sick or Viaticum:
 
The Church prays for those who find themselves unable to receive the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick and of the  Viaticum, entrusting each and every one to divine Mercy by virtue of the communion of saints and granting the faithful a  Plenary Indulgence on the point of death, provided that they are duly disposed and have recited a few prayers during their lifetime (in this case the Church makes up for the three usual conditions required). For the attainment of this indulgence the use of the crucifix or the cross is recommended (cf.  Enchiridion indulgentiarum, no.12).

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