Today, (March 27) Pope Francis will offer an extraordinary Urbi et Orbi blessing for the city of Rome and the world at 1:00pm Eastern. You can catch this broadcast wherever you are on your mobile device through a variety of outlets listed at links below. This blessing will take place in an empty St. Peter’s Basilica Square in the midst of what Vatican sources say will be an hour-long prayer service with the possibility of viewers and listeners on any media platform obtaining the Plenary Indulgence.
Pope Francis said this blessing, traditionally offered at Christmas and Easter, will be imparted at this special time in response to the coronavirus pandemic “with the universality of prayer, of compassion, of tenderness…Let us remain united. Let us make our closeness felt toward those persons who are the most lonely and tried”.
From Vatican News
…as [Pope Francis] explained when he made the announcement on Sunday and as he reiterated on Wednesday during the General Audience:
“We will listen to the Word of God, we will raise our supplication, we will adore the Blessed Sacrament, at the end I will impart the Urbi et orbi Blessing, and you will have the possibility of receiving a plenary indulgence.” […]
It [the service] will consist in readings from the Scriptures, prayers of supplication, and adoration of the Blessed Sacrament; and will conclude with Pope Francis giving the Urbi et orbi Blessing, with the possibility of gaining a plenary indulgence for all those who listen to it live through the various forms of communication. This plenary indulgence will also be extended to those who may not be able to participate in the prayer through the media due to illness but who unite themselves in spiritual communion with the prayer.
Plenary Indulgence Conditions
Prescribed work:
- Unite spiritually through the media to the Pope’s social prayer and blessing on Friday, March 27, 2020
- The recitation of the Holy Rosary
- The pious practice of the Way of the Cross [apps linked here]
- or some other form of devotion such as reciting the Creed, the Lord’s Prayer or a pious invocation to the Blessed Virgin Mary
The usual Conditions:
- A spirit detached from sin
- Sacramental confession (as soon as possible)
- Eucharistic communion (as soon as possible)
- Prayer for the Holy Father’s intentions
Links to the livestream broadcast
Vatican News dedicated YouTube channel for hearing impaired
Vatican News App to watch from your mobile device on an app platform (Free) Apple | Android
EWTN Watch Live at 1:00pm Eastern
EWTN app to watch from your mobile device on an app platform (free) Apple | Android | Kindle Fire
EWTN Radio listen LIVE