Just a reminder that there was no weekly general audience today as Pope Francis is taking a staycation in the Vatican throughout the month of July. But, as you can see, that doesn’t mean he stops working!
POPE ESTABLISHES “COMMISSION FOR NEW MARTYRS – WITNESSES OF THE FAITH”
In view of the Jubilee of 2025, Pope Francis decided to create a working group at the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints to draw up a catalogue of all Christians – not only Catholics – who have shed their blood to confess Christ in the last quarter of a century.
Pope Francis released a letter on Wednesday, 5 July, in which he announced the establishment of the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints’ “Commission for the New Martyrs – Witnesses of the Faith”, in view of the Jubilee of 2025.
The working group’s objective will be to draw up a catalogue of all Christians who have shed their blood to confess Christ and bear witness to the Gospel.
“Martyrs in the Church,” wrote the Pope, “are witnesses of the hope that comes from faith in Christ and incites to true charity. Hope keeps alive the profound conviction that good is stronger than evil, because God in Christ has conquered sin and death.”
The Commission will continue the search to identify the Witnesses of the Faith in this first quarter of the century and to continue in the future. This work was started during the Jubilee Year of 2000.
“Martyrs,” the Pope continued, “have accompanied the life of the Church in every age and flourish as ‘ripe and excellent fruits of the vineyard of the Lord’ even today… Martyrs are more numerous in our time than in the first centuries: they are bishops, priests, consecrated men and women, lay people and families, who in the different countries of the world, with the gift of their lives, have offered the supreme proof of charity.” Pope establishes ‘Commission for New Martyrs – Witnesses of the Faith’ – Vatican News
VATICAN GRANTS PLENARY INDULGENCE FOR WORLD DAY OF GRANDPARENTS
The Apostolic Penitentiary announces that Pope Francis has granted a Plenary Indulgence for the faithful who take part in the 3rd World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly.
In a move to foster devotion among the faithful, the Apostolic Penitentiary has granted a request from Cardinal Kevin Joseph Farrell, Prefect of the Dicastery for the Laity, Family, and Life.
The cardinal requested that a Plenary Indulgence be granted to Catholics taking part in the upcoming Third World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly, which was instituted by Pope Francis.
The World Day will be celebrated on 23 July 2023 under the theme “His mercy is from age to age” (Lk 1:50).
Conditions for plenary indulgence
In a decree issued by the Apostolic Penitentiary and approved by Pope Francis, the plenary indulgence will be granted to grandparents, the elderly, and all faithful who participate in the solemn celebration presided over by the Pope in St. Peter’s Basilica, as well as to all those who attend Mass in various parts of the world.
The indulgence is subject to the usual conditions of sacramental Confession, reception of the Eucharist, and prayer for the intentions of the Holy Father.
A plenary indulgence offers remission of the temporal punishment due to sins already forgiven, which can be applied to oneself or to the souls in Purgatory. Vatican grants plenary indulgence for World Grandparents Day – Vatican News
Joan's Rome 