Pope Francis has issued a decree granting a jubilee year with the inherent plenary indulgence for the 500th anniversary of the arrival of Christianity in the Philippines.
The decree was issued on Feb. 25 to the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP).
CBCP News said the document signed by the head of Vatican’s Apostolic Penitentiary, Cardinal Mauro Piacenza, said the year would be an "opportunity to increase the virtues of faith, hope and charity."
An indulgence is the remission of the temporal punishment due to sins, which have already been forgiven.
To receive plenary indulgence, the faithful should make a devotional pilgrimage to one of the designated “Jubilee Churches” until April 22, 2022.
The country’s 85 dioceses listed 537 pilgrimage churches for the celebration.
CBCP News said the faithful also have to meet the usual conditions of going to confession, receiving the Eucharist, and praying for the intentions of the Pope.
Pilgrims are also asked to pray “for the fidelity of the Filipino people to their Christian calling, for the increase of priestly and religious vocations and for the defense of the family, concluding with the Lord’s Prayer, the profession of faith, and an invocation to the Blessed Virgin Mary”.
The gift of plenary indulgence is also extended to the sick, the elderly, and all those who for legitimate reasons are unable to leave their homes amid the prevailing coronaviruams disease (COVID-19) pandemic.
CBCP News said they can obtain the plenary indulgence if they are detached from any sin and have the intentions of fulfilling the three usual conditions as soon as possible— “they join themselves spiritually to the celebrations, offering their prayers and sufferings, or the inconvenience of one’s own life to the merciful God through Mary.”
The Apostolic Penitentiary asked priests to pastorally facilitate the celebration of the Sacrament of Penance and the administration of holy communion to the sick with a willing and generous spirit.