In order to enhance the devotion of the faithful and for the salvation of souls, Pope Francis will grant a Plenary Indulgence to grandparents, the elderly and all the faithful on the occasion of the First World Day of Grandparents and the Elderly, recently instituted by himself on the fourth Sunday of the month of July, on the following conditions:

A. Basic Conditions:

A spirit detached from any sin, sacramental confession (within three weeks either before or after the performance of one of the works listed under Section B), Eucharistic Communion, and prayer for the Pope’s intentions (may be satisfied by reciting one Our Father and one Hail Mary).

B. Performance of one of the following Works:

1. on 25 July 2021, on the occasion of the First World Day of Grandparents and the Elderly participating, with a true spirit of penance and charity, in the solemn celebration presided over by the Holy Father in the Vatican Papal Basilica or in one of the solemn functions that will be held throughout the world;
2. devoting adequate time to actually or virtually visiting the elderly in need or in difficulty (such as the sick, the abandoned, the disabled and other similar cases);
3. for the elderly sick who are unable to leave their homes and all those who are home-confined for a serious reason: if they, detaching themselves from any sins and intending to fulfill the three usual conditions as soon as possible, unite themselves spiritually to the sacred functions of the World Day, offering to the Merciful God their prayers, pains or sufferings of their lives, especially during the transmission of the teaching of the Holy Father and the solemn celebrations through television, radio or other new means of social communication.

The Plenary Indulgence may be applied as suffrage for the souls in Purgatory.

The Role of Priests

The Apostolic Penitentiary exhorts priests, out of pastoral solicitude, to make themselves easily available for the celebration of Penance.

Given at the Chancery Office,
5 July 2021.
Rev. Lawrence LEE
Chancellor

The Government announced on 22 June 2021 some relaxed measures on social distancing, including the following two, effective 24 June 2021:

1. The maximum number of persons at each religious gathering (e.g., a weekday or Sunday Mass) is increased from 30% to 50% of the normal capacity of the venue (church or Mass centre);
2. The maximum number of participants at a wedding ceremony where no food or drink is served (except as part of religious ritual) is increased from 20 persons to 50% of the normal capacity of the venue (church).

Given at the Chancery Office,

23 June 2021.
Rev. Lawrence Lee
Chancellor