Pope Francis has granted the faithful a Plenary Indulgence for the sesquicentennial (150th) anniversary of canonical erection of the Diocese of San Antonio, created on August 28, 1874, as well as the centennial (100th) anniversary of the elevation to Metropolitan Archdiocese of San Antonio on August 3rd, 1926. The indulgence is valid between January 1, 2024, and December 31, 2026. The baptized faithful receive this indulgence by being in the state of grace at the completion of the prescribed works below:

• Visit at least one of the 23 designated pilgrimage sites in the Archdiocese of San Antonio
• Celebrate Sacramental Confession
• Receive Holy Communion
• Pray for the Pope’s intentions with one Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory Be
• Perform works of mercy (e.g. visiting the sick or imprisoned; helping the disabled)
• Be free from all attachment to sin

People who are unable to leave their home due to illness or other reason can gain plenary indulgence by spiritually joining themselves to the anniversary celebrations and offering their sufferings to God.

According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, “An indulgence is a remission before God of the temporal punishment due to sins whose guilt has already been forgiven, which the faithful Christian who is duly disposed gains under certain prescribed conditions through the action of the Church which, as the minister of redemption, dispenses and applies with authority the treasury of the satisfactions of Christ and the saints… The faithful can gain indulgences for themselves or apply them to the dead.”