Pope Francis to grant indulgence to church pilgrims

In line with the 500th anniversary of the arrival of Christianity in the Philippines, Pope Francis will grant a plenary indulgence to Catholics who make a pilgrimage to at least one of the jubilee churches.

Catholics may visit 537 pilgrimage churches in the country under 85 dioceses until April 22, 2022.

Pope Francis issued the decree granting indulgence on Feb. 25.

The decree, signed by Cardinal Mauro Piacenza, head of Vatican’s Apostolic Penitentiary, said the celebration, which starts on April 4, was an opportunity to increase the virtues of faith, hope and charity.

The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines defines an indulgence as the “remission of the temporal punishment due to sins, which have already been forgiven.” —Jodee A. Agoncillo