The Catholic Church decided to grant Friday, under certain conditions, " plenary indulgence ", or forgiveness of sins, to believers struck by the coronavirus pandemic, whether they are in hospital or at home.
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According to a decree made public on Friday March 20 by one of the Vatican courts, the forgiveness also concerns other Catholic faithful: health professionals and relatives caring for patients infected with the new coronavirus and thus putting themselves at risk of contagion, as well as people praying enough for the patients and the end of the pandemic.
To benefit from these indulgences, the sick will have to participate in a certain number of celebrations retransmitted at a distance or other forms of devotion, while also having " a spirit detached from all sin ", stipulates the apostolic penitentiary. Finally, the Church grants forgiveness to the faithful Catholics on the verge of death, provided that they are prepared to do so and that they have recited " regularly a few prayers during their life ".
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In an additional note, the Holy See also indicated that the absolution of sins could be made " collectively " and " without prior individual confession ", in the territories currently most severely affected by the pandemic of disease linked to new coronavirus.
The Church gives some practical advice for this. A collective absolution will be made, for example, at the entrance to hospital services where there are patients in danger of death, using a loudspeaker to be heard. And if the priest has to approach several faithful, he will have to choose a ventilated place and bring protective masks.
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