News reports have gone out claiming that the Pope will be granting indulgences via twitter. This is not entirely true. Pope Francis has granted plenary indulgences to those who are participating in World Youth Day 2013. He also extended the indulgence to those who cannot participate physically, but will be united with the youth in spirit. This can apply to those who follow the events via the media or social networking.
This does not mean that one will have sins forgiven or will receive indulgences just by following @pontifex. One must fulfill the requirements in order to receive the indulgence.
What is an indulgence?
"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."81
"An indulgence is partial or plenary according as it removes either part or all of the temporal punishment due to sin."82 The faithful can gain indulgences for themselves or apply them to the dead.83
- http://www.vatican.va/archive/ccc_css/archive/catechism/p2s2c2a4.htm
See here on the requirements to obtain a plenary indulgence: http://www.ewtn.com/expert/answers/indulgences_conditions.htm
Source:
http://www.news.va/en/news/indulgences-for-the-world-youth-day
http://www.catholicregister.org/news/international/item/16565-vatican-announces-indulgences-for-world-youth-day
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