The Apostolic Penitentiary issued a decree on March 19, 2020, regarding the granting of extraordinary plenary indulgences in the situation of the coronavirus crisis. The mentioned decree grants these extraordinary plenary indulgences to believers affected by the viral disease Covid-19, also known as the coronavirus, as well as healthcare workers, relatives, and all those who in any way – even through prayer – care for the sick. Here is a brief overview of who and under what conditions can gain extraordinary plenary indulgences:
I. The decree grants the gift of extraordinary plenary indulgences to the following individuals:
1. believers affected by the disease Covid-19, known as the coronavirus, who are in hospitals or in home quarantine
2. healthcare workers (doctors, nurses, paramedics, etc.)
3. family members of the sick
4. all those who care for these sick individuals in any way
These believers can gain extraordinary plenary indulgences under the following conditions:
1. they renounce attachment to any sin
2. a) spiritually unite themselves through communication means (television, radio, social media) to the celebration of the Holy Mass or the prayer of the Holy Rosary, or to the devout celebration of the Stations of the Cross or other forms of devotion;
b) if none of this is possible for them, they can instead pray: I believe in God, Our Father, and some prayer to the Blessed Virgin Mary (e.g., Hail Mary, Under Your Protection, Hail Queen, etc.);
3. they offer this trial in the spirit of faith in God and love for their brothers and sisters;
4. they intend to fulfill the usual conditions for gaining plenary indulgences (confession, Holy Communion, and prayer for the intention of the Holy Father) as soon as possible.
II. All other believers The Apostolic Penitentiary gives the opportunity to gain extraordinary plenary indulgences in the situation of a pandemic, when they offer – to implore from God the end of the epidemic, relief for those affected, and eternal salvation for those whom the Lord has called to Himself – the following:
a) a visit to the Most Holy Sacrament, Eucharistic adoration (if possible given the safety measures)
b) or at least a half-hour reading of the Holy Scripture
c) or the prayer of the Holy Rosary
d) or the performance of the Stations of the Cross
e) or the prayer of the Chaplet of Divine Mercy
It is clear that the reading of the Holy Scripture and prayers can be done without leaving home, thus fully respecting the regulations against the spread of contagion.
Of course, it also applies to these believers that they intend to fulfill the usual conditions for gaining plenary indulgences (confession, Holy Communion, and prayer for the intention of the Holy Father) as soon as possible.
III. To believers who are on the verge of death and cannot receive the sacrament of anointing of the sick, confess, or receive Holy Communion, the Church grants plenary indulgences, provided that:
a) they are duly disposed;
b) during their life, they usually prayed at least some prayer (in this case, the Church itself replaces the three usual conditions);
c) it is recommended to honor the cross with the crucified Christ or even a simple cross.
The chief penitentiary, Cardinal Mauro Piacenza, stated that the reason for the issuance of the decree was the Church's concern to be close to all who need it in this extraordinary time requiring extraordinary measures, “to bring comfort and help so that no one lacks the kind touch of God in the face of suffering and imminent death.”
In response to the question of whether the indulgences also apply to other sick individuals or only to those affected by the coronavirus, the chief penitentiary, Cardinal Piacenza, replied: “The decree is an extraordinary measure due to the general state of emergency we are experiencing. It applies to all sick individuals because all hospitalized sick people today, in hospitals, are experiencing the consequences of the state of emergency due to the pandemic in one way or another.”
The decree ends with a plea: “Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God and Mother of the Church, health of the sick and helper of Christians, our intercessor, may you help suffering humanity, turn away from us the evil of this pandemic, and obtain for us all the goods necessary for our salvation and our sanctification.”
(Prepared by: P. ICLic. Radim Josef Jančář, O.Carm.)
