Jubilee 2025: Guide to obtaining plenary indulgences

The Jubilee of Hope 2025 is a special invitation to all the faithful to renew their faith, experience God’s mercy and obtain plenary indulgences through various acts of faith and other concrete actions.

Below is a guide that provides a summary of the main ways to obtain indulgences this Holy Year, according to the document issued by the Apostolic Penitentiary.

General requirements

1. To obtain a plenary indulgence, the faithful must:

2. Be truly sorry

3. Exclude all affection for sin

4. Be moved by a spirit of charity

5. Purify yourself through the sacrament of penance or confession

6. Receive Holy Communion

7. Pray for the Pope’s intentions

Ways to obtain indulgence

I. In the sacred pilgrimages

The faithful may obtain the Jubilee indulgence by making a pilgrimage to any Jubilee sacred site (designated by a local diocese), participating in:

• Misa

• Celebration of the Word of God

• Liturgy of the Hours (office of readings, lauds, vespers)

• Via Crucis

• Holy Rosary

• The Marian Hymn of the Akathistos

• Penitential celebration, concluding with the individual confession of the penitents (form II)

In Rome:

In the Holy Land:

• At least one of the three main basilicas: Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem, of the Nativity in Bethlehem, of the Annunciation in Nazareth.

II. Pious visits to sacred places

The faithful can obtain the indulgence by devoutly visiting any jubilee pilgrimage site, individually or in groups, practicing the following:

1. Eucharistic adoration and meditation

2. Pray the Our Father

3. Recite the Creed

4. Invoke Mary, Mother of God

Additional places to visit:

• In Rome: Basilicas and specific sacred places: Basilica of the Holy Cross in Jerusalem, the Basilica of San Lorenzo al Verano, the Basilica of San Sebastian, the Sanctuary of Divine Love, the Church of Santo Spirito in Sassia, the Church of Saint Paul alle Tre Fontane, place of the Martyrdom of the Apostle, the Christian Catacombs; the churches of the jubilee roads dedicated respectively to European journey and churches dedicated to women Patronesses of Europe and Doctors of the Church (Basílica de Santa María sopra Minerva, Iglesia de Santa Brígida en Campo de’ Fiori, Iglesia de Santa María della Vittoria, Iglesia de Trinità dei Monti, Basílica de Santa Cecilia en Trastevere, Basílica de San Agustín en Campo Marzio)

• In other places in the world such as the minor papal basilicas and designated sanctuaries: the two minor Papal Basilicas of Assisi, the Pontifical Basilicas of the Virgin of Loreto, of the Virgin of Pompeii, of Saint Anthony of Padua; any minor Basilica, cathedral, co-cathedral, Marian sanctuary, as well as, for the benefit of the faithful, any distinguished collegiate church or sanctuary designated by each diocesan or eparchial bishop, as well as national or international sanctuaries.

III. Works of mercy and penance

The faithful can obtain the jubilee indulgence by:

1. Participation in popular missions or spiritual exercises or other training meetings on texts from the Second Vatican Council and the Catechism.

2. Carrying out corporal and spiritual works of mercy.

3. Visits to people in need (sick, imprisoned, elderly, etc.)

4. Penitential initiatives, especially on Fridays:

• Refraining from banal distractions (real or virtual such as social networks).

• Fasting or practicing abstinence.

• Donating money to the poor.

• Supporting works of a religious or social nature (especially in favor of the defense of life at every stage and the protection of abandoned minors, youth in difficulty, elderly people in need or alone, migrants).

• Dedicating time to volunteering.

Special considerations

• Diocesan bishops may impart the Papal blessing with plenary indulgence in the main celebration of cathedrals and jubilee churches, under the usual conditions.

• Plenary indulgence can be obtained daily.

• It is possible to obtain two plenary indulgences on the same day if an act of charity is performed for the souls in Purgatory and Communion is received for the second time.

• The disabled faithful (sick, elderly, prisoners) can obtain indulgence by uniting spiritually and offering their sufferings.

Facilities for confession

• The local ordinarys will grant special powers to the confessors.

• Priests are urged to offer ample opportunities for confession.

• Hearing confessions is allowed during the celebration of Holy Mass.