The Pope extends Lauretan Jubilee, to December 2021

By Vatican News

On Saturday evening, to the applause of the faithful, Archbishop Fabio Dal Cin, Pontifical Delegate to the Shrine at Loreto announced the Pope’s decision to extend the Lauretan Jubilee until 10 December 2021. The Jubilee was granted on the occasion of the hundredth anniversary of the proclamation by Pope Benedict XV of Our Lady of Loreto, Patroness of all airmen.

December 2021 extension

Imparting the news from the Shrine of the Holy House, the Archbishop said, "In this difficult time for mankind, Holy Mother Church gives us another twelve months to start anew with Christ, letting us be accompanied by Mary, a sign of consolation and sure hope for all".

The Jubilee was officially inaugurated on 8 December, the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, with the opening of the Holy Door presided over by Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin, but "unfortunately not celebrated in all its entirety because of the Covid-19 epidemic".

Apostolic Decree

An Apostolic Decree issued on July 16 by the Apostolic Penitentiary states that there will be for another twelve months to experience grace and forgiveness for all the faithful who visit the Pontifical Shrine. Grace which also extends to the many chapels of the civil airports and air force bases around the world.

The decree co-signed by Cardinal Mauro Piacenza, Major Penitentiary and Regent Father Krzysztof Józef Nykiel also states that "the faithful will draw from the generous extension good intentions and spiritual vigor to be implemented in life according to the law of the Gospel".

The Pope on Loreto

Following Saturday’s Vigil for the Solemnity of the Assumption, Archbishop Dal Cin recalled the many times during the year, in which the Pope expressed his closeness to the Shrine: in his visit on March 25, 2019 where he signed the Apostolic Exhortation to the Young Christus Vivit; in the concession and extension of the Lauretan Jubilee; in the inscription on December 10 in the Roman calendar the optional memorial of the Blessed Virgin of Loreto, and finally with the inclusion in the Lauretan Litanies of three new invocations Mater Misericordiae, Mater Spei and Solacium migrantium.