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Please note that there are three conditions attached to the special Urbi et orbi blessing on Easter and Christmas mornings which must be met WHEN YOU ARE ABLE TO DO SO. They are sacramental confession, Eucharistic Communion, and prayer for the intention of the Sovereign Pontiff. It is further required that all attachment to sin, even venial sin, be absent. Clearly, going to sacramental confession and Eucharistic Communion is not possible for most of the faithful right now, but it must be our intention to do so at the earliest opportunity after the blessing. However, due to the current situation the Apostolic Penitentiary issued a decree on 20 March 2020 granting the gift of special indulgence to the faithful suffering from Covid-
The Plenary Indulgence is granted to the faithful suffering from Coronavirus, who are subject to quarantine by order of the health authority in hospitals or in their own homes if, with a spirit detached from any sin, they unite spiritually through the media to the celebration of Holy Mass, the recitation of the Holy Rosary, to the pious practice of the Way of the Cross or other forms of devotion, or if at least they will recite the Creed, the Lord’s prayer and a pious invocation to the Blessed Virgin Mary, offering this trial in a spirit of faith in God and charity towards their brothers and sisters, with the world to fulfil the usual conditions (sacramental confession, Eucharistic communion and prayer according to the holy fathers intentions), as soon as possible. Healthcare workers, family members and all those who, following the example of the Good Samaritan, exposing themselves to the risk of contagion, care for the sick of Coronavirus according to the words of the divine Redeemer: “greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends“ (Jn 15:13), will obtain the same gift of the Plenary Indulgence under the same conditions.
The Apostolic Penitentiary also willingly grants a Plenary Indulgence under the same conditions on the occasion of the current world epidemic, also to those faithful who offer a visit to the Blessed Sacrament, or Eucharistic adoration, or reading the Holy Scriptures for at least half an hour, or the recitation of the Holy Rosary, or the pious exercise of the Way of the Cross, or the recitation of the Chaplet of Divine Mercy, to implore from Almighty God the end of the epidemic, relief for those who are afflicted and eternal salvation for those whom the Lord has called to himself.
The Church prays for those who find themselves unable to receive the sacrament of the anointing of the sick and of the Viaticum, entrusting each and every one to divine Mercy by virtue of the communion of saints and granting the faithful a Plenary Indulgence on the point of death, provided that they are duly disposed and have recited a few prayers during their lifetime (in this case the Church makes up for the three usual conditions required). For the attainment of this indulgence the use of the crucifix or the cross is recommended.
The Pope’s prayer intention for the month of April 2020
is Freedom from Addiction:
We pray that those suffering from addiction
may be helped and accompanied.