Catholics can obtain a plenary indulgence by visiting an elderly person on the second World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly said the Vatican on Monday.
A decree issued by the Apostolic Penitentiary on 30 May said that the indulgence is available “to the faithful who devote adequate time to visit, in the presence or virtually, through the media, their elderly brothers and sisters in need or in difficulty” on 24 July.
The indulgence can also be gained by Catholics present at a solemn commemoration of the annual event by Pope Francis that day or at celebrations around the world.
An indulgence — defined by the Catechism of the Catholic Church as “a remission before God of the temporal punishment due to sins whose guilt has already been forgiven” — will be available under the usual conditions of Confession, Holy Communion, and prayer in accordance with the intentions of the Supreme Pontiff.
According to the Catechism, an indulgence can be either partial or plenary, depending on whether it “removes either part or all of the temporal punishment due to sin.”
The new decree signed by the Major Penitentiary Cardinal Mauro Piacenza and Regent Father Krzysztof Nykiel said: “The plenary indulgence may also be granted, provided that they remove themselves from any sin and with the intention of fulfilling the three usual conditions as soon as possible, to the sick elderly and to all those who, unable to leave their homes for a serious reason, will unite spiritually with the sacred services of the World Day, offering to the Merciful God their prayers, and the pains and sufferings of their lives, especially while the words of the Supreme Pontiff and the various celebrations are broadcast through the media.”
A similar decree was issued for World Day’s inaugural celebration on July 25, 2021.
Pope Francis established the commemoration in January 2021. The day falls annually on the fourth Sunday of July, on or close to the July 26 Feast of Sts. Anne and Joachim, the grandparents of Jesus.