Pope Francis gives Urbi et Orbi blessing on Friday 27 March 9 pm UAE time

What is a Plenary Indugence?

“An indulgence is a remission before God of the temporal punishment due to sins whose guilt has already been forgiven, which the faithful Christian who is duly disposed gains under certain prescribed conditions through the action of the Church which, as the minister of redemption, dispenses and applies with authority the treasury of the satisfactions of Christ and the saints. An indulgence is partial or plenary according as it removes either part or all of the temporal punishment due to sin. Indulgences may be applied to the living or the dead." (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1471)
 

The Plenary Indulgence is granted to 

1. 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, 
• the recitation of the Holy Rosary, 
• to the pious practice of the Way of the Cross or 
• other forms of devotion, 

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.

2. 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.

This Apostolic Penitentiary also willingly grants a Plenary Indulgence under the same conditions on the occasion of the current world epidemic, also to 

3. 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.

• 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)