Pope declares jubilee year in PH to mark 500th anniversary of Christianity

POPE Francis has granted the entire Philippines, not just the Archdiocese of Cebu, a jubilee year for the 500th anniversary of the arrival of Christianity in the country.

"The year would be an opportunity to increase the virtues of faith, hope, and charity," CBCP News quoted the decree on the jubilee year, which was signed by the head of Vatican’s Apostolic Penitentiary, Cardinal Mauro Piacenza.

Alongside the declaration of the jubilee year, the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) via its official publication said inherent plenary indulgence will also be granted to the faithful when they make a devotional pilgrimage to any of the designated jubilee churches until April 22, 2022.

The 85 dioceses in the country have listed a total of 537 pilgrimage churches for the quincentennial celebration.

"When the faithful make the pilgrimage, they have to meet the usual conditions of going to confession, receiving the Eucharist, and praying for the intentions of the Pope," said CBCP News.

To note, plenary indulgence is the remission of the temporal punishment due to sins, which have already been forgiven.

The decree similarly provided that the gift of plenary indulgence is also extended to the sick, the elderly, and all those who, for legitimate reasons, are unable to leave their homes due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic.

"They too can obtain the plenary indulgence if they are detached from any sin and have the intentions of fulfilling the three usual conditions as soon as possible, (namely) spiritually joining the celebrations, offering their prayers and sufferings, or the inconvenience of one’s own life to the merciful God through Mary," the decree says.

Earlier, Pope Francis granted the request of Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma to declare a special jubilee year along with the attached plenary indulgence in the entire archdiocese. (HDT/SunStar Philippines)

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