3 Ways for Young and Old to Gain a Plenary Indulgence on Grandparents and Elderly Day - Official Decree Released by Vatican
Pope Francis established World Grandparents and Elderly Day on the 4th Sunday in July (July 23rd in 2023). Young and old can obtain a plenary indulgence(remittance for sin) on this day by doing one of these things:
1) to grandparents, the elderly and all the faithful who, motivated by a true spirit of penance and charity, will participate on 23 July 2023, on the occasion of the Second World Day of Grandparents and the Elderly, in the solemn celebration that the Holy Father Francis will preside over in the Vatican Papal Basilica, or in the various functions that will be held throughout the world.
2) to the faithful who devote adequate time to visit, in presence or virtually, through the media, their elderly brothers and sisters in need or in difficulty (such as the sick, the abandoned, the disabled).3) to the sick elderly and to all those who, unable to leave their homes for a serious reason, will unite spiritually with the sacred services of World Youth Day, offering to the Merciful God their prayers, and the pains and sufferings of their lives.
Please note that all Plenary indulgences require sacramental Confession (within 20 days), Eucharistic Communion and prayer in accordance with the intentions of the Pope.
(Explainer VIDEO from when Pope Francis Established the Day)
Decree of the Apostolic Penitentiary on the granting of Plenary Indulgence on the occasion of the Third World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly, 05.07.2023
D E C R E E
The Apostolic Penitentiary, in order to increase the devotion of the faithful and procure the salvation of souls, by virtue of the faculties attributed to it by the Supreme Pontiff Francis, Pope by Divine Providence, accepting the recent request presented by the Most Eminent Cardinal of the Holy Roman Church Kevin Joseph Farrell, Prefect of the Dicastery for the Laity, Family and Life, on the occasion of the Third World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly, already instituted by the Supreme Pontiff on the fourth Sunday of the month of July and which this year will be held on the theme “His mercy is from age to age” (Lk 1:50) graciously grants from the heavenly treasures of the Church the Plenary Indulgence, under the usual conditions (sacramental confession, Eucharistic communion and prayer according to the intentions of the Supreme Pontiff) to grandparents, the elderly and all the faithful who, motivated by a true spirit of penance and charity, participate on 23 July 2023, on the occasion of the Third World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly, at the solemn celebration over which the Most Holy Father Francis will preside in the Vatican Papal Basilica, or at the various functions that will be held throughout the world, a Plenary Indulgence that may also be applied as a suffrage to the souls in Purgatory.
This Court of Mercy also grants the Plenary Indulgence on this same day to the faithful who devote adequate time to visiting, in person or virtually, through the communications media, their elderly brothers and sisters in need or in difficulty (such as the sick, the abandoned, the disabled...).
The Plenary Indulgence may also be granted, provided that they free themselves from any sin and intend to fulfill the three usual conditions as soon as possible, to the sick elderly and to all those who, unable to leave their homes for a serious reason, will unite spiritually with the sacred services of World Youth Day, offering to the Merciful God their prayers, their sorrows and the sufferings of their lives, especially while the words of the Supreme Pontiff and the various celebrations are broadcast through the media.
In order, therefore, that this opportunity to obtain divine grace through the power of the Keys of the Church may be more easily realized through pastoral charity, this Penitentiary firmly requests priests, equipped with the appropriate faculties to hear confessions, to make themselves available, with a ready and generous spirit, for the celebration of the Sacrament of Penance.
This Decree is valid for the Third World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly, notwithstanding any provision to the contrary.
Given in Rome, at the Seat of the Apostolic Penitentiary, on 15 June 2023.
Mauro Card. Piacenza
Major Penitentiary
Krzysztof Nykiel
Regent
The Apostolic Penitentiary, in order to increase the devotion of the faithful and procure the salvation of souls, by virtue of the faculties attributed to it by the Supreme Pontiff Francis, Pope by Divine Providence, accepting the recent request presented by the Most Eminent Cardinal of the Holy Roman Church Kevin Joseph Farrell, Prefect of the Dicastery for the Laity, Family and Life, on the occasion of the Third World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly, already instituted by the Supreme Pontiff on the fourth Sunday of the month of July and which this year will be held on the theme “His mercy is from age to age” (Lk 1:50) graciously grants from the heavenly treasures of the Church the Plenary Indulgence, under the usual conditions (sacramental confession, Eucharistic communion and prayer according to the intentions of the Supreme Pontiff) to grandparents, the elderly and all the faithful who, motivated by a true spirit of penance and charity, participate on 23 July 2023, on the occasion of the Third World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly, at the solemn celebration over which the Most Holy Father Francis will preside in the Vatican Papal Basilica, or at the various functions that will be held throughout the world, a Plenary Indulgence that may also be applied as a suffrage to the souls in Purgatory.
This Court of Mercy also grants the Plenary Indulgence on this same day to the faithful who devote adequate time to visiting, in person or virtually, through the communications media, their elderly brothers and sisters in need or in difficulty (such as the sick, the abandoned, the disabled...).
The Plenary Indulgence may also be granted, provided that they free themselves from any sin and intend to fulfill the three usual conditions as soon as possible, to the sick elderly and to all those who, unable to leave their homes for a serious reason, will unite spiritually with the sacred services of World Youth Day, offering to the Merciful God their prayers, their sorrows and the sufferings of their lives, especially while the words of the Supreme Pontiff and the various celebrations are broadcast through the media.
In order, therefore, that this opportunity to obtain divine grace through the power of the Keys of the Church may be more easily realized through pastoral charity, this Penitentiary firmly requests priests, equipped with the appropriate faculties to hear confessions, to make themselves available, with a ready and generous spirit, for the celebration of the Sacrament of Penance.
This Decree is valid for the Third World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly, notwithstanding any provision to the contrary.
Given in Rome, at the Seat of the Apostolic Penitentiary, on 15 June 2023.
Mauro Card. Piacenza
Major Penitentiary
Krzysztof Nykiel
Regent
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