Apostolic Pardon

What is an Apostolic Pardon?

The Apostolic Pardon is prayed by the priest for a dying person and is often done at the time of Viaticum (Holy Communion at the time of death).

The prayer may take one of two forms:

† “Through the holy mysteries of our redemption, may Almighty God release you from all punishments in this life and the life to come. May He open to you the Gates of Paradise and welcome you into everlasting joy.”

† “By the authority which the Apostolic See has given me, I grant you a full pardon and the remission of all your sins in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.”

Handbook of Indulgences #28:

“Priests who minister the sacraments to the Christian faithful who are in a life-and-death situation should not neglect to impart to them the Apostolic Blessing with its attached indulgence. If a Catholic priest cannot be present, holy mother Church lovingly grants such persons, who are rightly disposed, a plenary indulgence to be obtained in articulo mortis (at the approach of death), provided they regularly prayed, in some way, during their lifetime. The use of a crucifix or a cross is recommended in obtaining this Plenary Indulgence. The three usual conditions required to gain a Plenary Indulgence are substituted by the condition ‘provided they regularly prayed in some way’.”

For more information about the Apostolic Pardon, please:

For more information about Plenary Indulgences click here.