The
​Jubilee Indulgence

Who can gain, and benefit from, the indulgence?

Any Catholic in a state of grace. They must intend to gain the indulgence. The indulgence can be for the person concerned or be applied by them for the benefit of the Holy Souls.

What are the conditions?

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The act specified by the Holy Father for the Year of Mercy is ‘a brief pilgrimage to the Holy Door.’ 
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The normal conditions attaching to an indulgence are:
  • Receiving Holy Communion;
  • Celebrating the sacrament of Confession; and
  • Prayer for the Pope. This is satisfied by praying one Our Father and one Hail Mary for the Pope’s intentions.
Pope Francis has added two further conditions:
  • Reciting the Creed; and
  • A reflection on mercy. While in no way precluding other reflections on mercy, this condition may be satisfied by praying the Collect for Divine Mercy Sunday:
‘God of everlasting mercy, Who, in the very recurrence of the paschal feast kindle the faith of the people You have made Your own, increase, we pray, the grace You have bestowed, that all may grasp and rightly understand in what font they have been washed, by Whose Spirit they have been reborn, by Whose Blood they have been redeemed. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, Who lives and reigns with You in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.’

How long do I have to fulfil the conditions?

The conditions must be satisfied ‘several days before or after’ visiting the Holy Door. This period is generally taken to mean around a week before or after the visit. If possible, it is appropriate to receive Holy Communion and to pray the prayers on the same day as visiting the Holy Door. Confession might be at another time, and need not be at the Cathedral or church at which we visit the Holy Door.
It is only possible to gain one indulgence per day, but otherwise we can obtain the indulgence throughout the Year of Mercy.  

I am unable to visit a Holy Door. Am I precluded from obtaining the indulgence?

No. Pope Francis wishes the indulgence to be obtainable as widely as possible. The sick and the housebound may still receive the indulgence by receiving Holy Communion, or attending Mass or community prayer – even by the various means of communication.
Prisoners may receive the indulgence in their prison chapel. In their case, the door of their cell may serve as the Holy Door.