Dear brothers and sisters,
May the Lord give you peace!
We write to you from Assisi, where we are gathered on the occasion of the celebrations for our Seraphic Father, to share with you the great gift and privilege that the Holy Father wanted to grant us on the occasion of the 800th anniversary of Christmas in Greccio. Here Saint Francis wanted to commemorate the birth of the Lord starting with a nativity scene, leading to the Eucharistic celebration, where Jesus Christ makes himself present in the bread and wine.
During this Centenary, on 17 April 2023, we addressed the following petition to the Holy Father: “in order to promote the spiritual renewal of the faithful and increase the life of grace, we ask that the faithful receive a plenary indulgence under the usual conditions from 8 December 2023, the Solemnity of Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, to 2 February 2024, Feast of the Presentation in the Temple of Our Lord Jesus Christ, by visiting the churches run by Franciscan families throughout the world and stopping in prayer in front of the nativity scenes set up there. Likewise, those who are sick or unable to participate physically can equally benefit from the gift of plenary indulgence, offering their sufferings to the Lord or carrying out pratices of piety.”
The Apostolic Penitentiary favorably welcomed the request, granting the right to announce it publicly.
Therefore, in all the churches entrusted to us for pastoral care, it will be possible for all the faithful
to receive a plenary indulgence, under the usual conditions, from 8 December 2023 to 2 February 2024.
We ask you to share this “privilege” in all our locations which fits in well with the special relationship that was established between Saint Francis and the Church when he asked the Pope for the Indulgence for those who visited the Porziuncola; and we hope that it will be an opportunity for communion and spiritual renewal for every brother and sister in the entire Franciscan family.
May the Lord guide your steps, and give you his mercy!
Your General Ministers and President
Frances Duncan OSF
President IFC-TOR
Massimo Fusarelli OFM
General Minister
Carlos Alberto Trovarelli OFMConv
General Minister
Roberto Genuin OFMCap
General Minister
Amando Trujillo Cano TOR
General Minister
Tibor Kauser OFS
General Minister
