Jubilee Year of St. Francis of Assisi
Pope Leo XVI has declared a special Jubilee year of St. Francis of Assisi, from January 10, 2026, to January 10, 2027, to commemorate the 800th anniversary of the saint’s death (October 3, 1226). The declaration came at the conclusion of the Ordinary Jubilee of the year 2025; Pilgrims of Hope. The declaration urges us “to not let the intentions of the Holy Year just passed be in vain: may the hope that saw us as pilgrims now be transformed into zeal and fervor of active charity.”
Pope Leo’s desire for the faithful is that “every faithful Christian, following the example of the Saint of Assisi, shall become a model of holiness of life and a constant witness of peace.” We are invited to “imitate the Poor Man of Assisi” and “to mold ourselves as much as possible on the model of Christ.”
As a part of this special Jubilee year, the Holy Father offers to all the faithful who meet certain conditions a plenary indulgence. In an interview with Vatian News,
Bishop Krzysztof Nykiel, Regent of the Apostolic Penitentiary, defined an indulgence as the remission by God of the Temporal punishment for sins that have already been forgiven in the sacrament of penance and reconciliation, so that one may carry out the due reparation in full freedom.” He stresses that this is not “religious magic” but “an invitation to a living relationship with God.”
Here are the six steps that the faithful must take to receive the plenary indulgence for the Year of St. Francis:
- Visit, in the form of a pilgrimage, any Franciscan conventual church or place of worship anywhere in the world dedicated to Saint Francis or connected to him for any reason;
- Spend a reasonable period of time in pious meditation and raise prayers to God so that, following the example of Saint Francis, feelings of Christian charity towards their neighbors and authentic vows of harmony and peace among people may spring forth in their hearts;
- Pray:
- The Our Father
- The Nicene Creed
- Invocations to the Blessed Virgin Mary, Saint Francis of Assisi, Saint Clare, and all the Saints of the Franciscan Family
- For the intentions of Pope Leo XIV
- Participate in Sacramental Confession (on the same day or within 20 days before or after a visit);
- Receive Holy Communion (on the same day or within 20 days before or after a visit);
- Detach themselves from all sin.
Because the Black Madonna Shrine is a public place of worship run by the Franciscan Missionary Brothers of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, it is an acceptable place for pilgrims to visit in order to complete the steps to receive the indulgence.