Enchiridion · Grant 33 §1, 1°
Visit one of Rome’s four major papal basilicas
Make a devout visit to the specified sacred place on the qualifying occasion, praying the Our Father and the Creed there.
Time required Individual visit: about 2–10 minutes; group pilgrimage: variable. No fixed minimum.
- When
- Any day
- Where
- Saint Peter’s, Saint John Lateran, Saint Mary Major, or Saint Paul Outside the Walls in Rome
- Who
- All eligible faithful
- Application
- Self or the departed
The prescribed work
- Visit the qualifying sacred place.
- Pray the Our Father and the Creed during the visit.
- Go as part of a group pilgrimage, or at least express filial submission to the Roman Pontiff during the visit.
The work and its conditions
A plenary indulgence also requires complete detachment from every sin, sacramental confession, Holy Communion, and prayer for the Pope’s intentions, subject to the grant’s stated exceptions. The ordinary limit is one plenary indulgence per day.
Conditions common to every indulgence
The person gaining an indulgence must be baptized, not excommunicated, and in the state of grace at least when the prescribed works are completed. There must be at least a general intention to gain indulgences, and the prescribed work must be performed at the time and in the manner required by the grant.
Read the full conditions and norms. The cited grant and its specific provisions govern.
Time required
Read each branch with its own conditions. An editorial estimate is not a prescribed minimum.
Individual visit expressing filial submission to the Pope
Editorial estimate
About 2–10 minutes for the visit’s prayers
No fixed minute minimum is prescribed. This editorial estimate describes the Our Father, Creed and a brief devout individual visit made to express filial submission to the Roman Pontiff; it does not estimate the separate group-pilgrimage alternative.
Group pilgrimage with the prescribed visit
Duration varies
Length of the group pilgrimage and prescribed visit
No fixed minute minimum is prescribed. Include the required group-pilgrimage activity itself; its itinerary and pace vary. Ordinary travel to reach the pilgrimage and waiting outside the prescribed work are separate.
Prayer component of the group-pilgrimage visit
Editorial estimate
About 2–10 minutes for the visit’s prayers
No fixed minute minimum is prescribed. This editorial estimate covers only the Our Father and prescribed Creed with a brief visit, not the complete required group pilgrimage.
What the time estimate excludes
- Ordinary travel to and from the venue, and waiting outside the prescribed work
- Preparation and the ordinary conditions for a plenary indulgence, unless they are themselves part of the prescribed work
Prayer texts and resources
Follow the prayer count and formula specified in the requirements. The two Creed readers are alternatives.
Source and exact reference
Prayer texts and grants have separate source histories. Consult the grant source for the prescribed work, occasion, and conditions.