On Philippines Christianity’s quincentennial, pope grants jubilee indulgence

MANILA, Philippines — A few days before leading a mass on March 14 for the Filipino community, Pope Francis has granted a jubilee year with the inherent plenary indulgence for the 500th celebration of the arrival of Christianity in the Philippines.

The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) said that the decision was made in a decree issued on Feb. 25, signed by the head of Vatican’s Apostolic Penitentiary, Cardinal Mauro Piacenza. The CBCP defined indulgence as remission of the temporal punishment due to sins, which have already been forgiven and that is also extended to the sick, elderly and all those who are unable to leave their homes. The plenary indulgence would be an opportunity for the Catholic faithful to increase the virtue of faith, hope and charity.

Catholic faithful can receive plenary indulgence by making a devotional pilgrimage to one of the 537 designated jubilee churches in around 85 dioceses and archdioceses in the Philippines until April 22, 2022.