Advertisement
Pope Francis celebrated first vespers for the vigil of the solemnity of Mary, Mother of God, in St. Peter’s Basilica on Tuesday.
A plenary indulgence is remission before God of the temporal punishment due to sins whose guilt has already been forgiven.
Because of sciatic pain, Pope Francis will not preside at the Vatican's liturgies on New Year's Eve and New Year's Day, according to the Holy See press office.
Pope Francis explained Thursday why the Catholic Church gives thanks to God at the close of a calendar year, even years that have been marked by tragedy, such as 2020’s coronavirus pandemic.