HEAVEN SENT
Pope Francis will forgive sinners during visit to Ireland
PEOPLE who take part in the World Meeting of Families during the Pope’s visit to Ireland will book themselves a shortcut to heaven.
It has been revealed that Pope Francis will grant plenary indulgences freeing those who attend the events in August from the consequences of their sins.
Even those who follow the events on TV and radio will be entitled to a partial indulgence.
The Vatican has ruled that those who pray with their families during the events which run from August 21 to 26 will receive a full plenary indulgence.
According to Catholic teaching an indulgence is a remission of the worldly punishment a person is due for sins that have been forgiven.
The decree released by the Vatican states: “So that the faithful prepare spiritually to participate in the event in the best way, His Holiness Pope Francis willingly concedes the gift of indulgences.”
It goes on to say that to receive the indulgence, people must be “truly repentant and motivated by charity” and dedicate themselves “to the sanctification of the family, following INDULGENCES for the faithful were not always free.
In the late medieval period the Catholic Church sold indulgences, motivating Martin Luther to question Rome’s leadership and theology, leading to the basis for the Protestant Reformation. An the example of the holy family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph.”
There are other conditions attached, including having recently gone to confession, receiving Holy Communion and offering prayers for the intentions of the Pope.
In a bid to look after those who cannot make it to the events in Dublin or are too ill to indulgence acted as a form of “confession insurance” against eternal damnation, ensuring you wouldn’t go to hell if you died suddenly or forgot to confess something.
It even got to the stage that the sale of indulgences could include forgiveness of people who were already dead. attend, the decree adds that they will receive the indulgence “if, spiritually united with the faithful present in Dublin, they recite as a family the Our Father, the creed and other devout prayers” for the good of families.
The decree was signed by Cardinal Mauro Piacenza who is the head of the Vatican office that deals with indulgences.
Cardinal Piacenza added that a partial indulgence is available to all Catholics who, no matter where they are, offer prayers with the Pope for families.
The Vatican added: “There are about 22,000 people registered for the meeting: they come from 103 countries and half of them are from outside Ireland.
“With 28% of participants under 18, this WMOF is the one with the highest rate of young people.”
of those attending the World Meeting of Families will be under 18