Pope Leo XIV grants plenary indulgence: what it is and to whom he granted it

The gift of Plenary Indulgence granted by the new Pope, Leo XIV. In the doctrine of the Catholic Church, plenary indulgence represents one of the highest expressions of divine mercy.

What is plenary indulgence?

It is the total remission of the temporal punishment due for sins already forgiven through sacramental confession. It is therefore not a “forgiveness of sins” in itself — that happens in confession — but the cancellation of every consequence that sin leaves in the soul, like a wound that goes beyond absolution. According to Catholic theology, every sin, even if forgiven, leaves a “debt” before God: a spiritual trace that requires purification. Plenary indulgence completely extinguishes this debt, freeing the soul from every residue linked to sin. It is an extraordinary grace that, if received in a state of grace and with the right dispositions, can be applied to oneself or offered for a deceased soul, thus strengthening the spiritual bond between the living and the dead in the communion of saints.

Plenary indulgence: deep purification

Indulgence in no way replaces the path of personal conversion: confession, communion and prayer remain fundamental conditions. Instead, it is a tangible sign of the love of God, who through the Church grants the faithful a means to purify themselves deeply and walk in holiness. A concrete example of this grace occurred during the very first public appearance of Pope Prevost as Leo XIV. On that occasion, imparting the blessing Urbi et Orbi, he extended the plenary indulgence to all those who received it — whether in person or through the media — on condition that they fulfilled the following conditions: sacramental confession within eight days before or after the blessing, Eucharistic communion, prayer according to the intentions of the Pontiff, and complete detachment from any sin, even venial.

Historical roots

Plenary indulgence has ancient roots in the history of the Church. The first recognized example dates back to 1294, when Pope Celestine V issued the famous Bull of Forgiveness, with which he granted plenary indulgence to all the faithful who went to the Basilica of Collemaggio between vespers on August 28 and sunset on the 29th.