Pope's special 'Urbi et Orbi' Christmas blessing

(December 25, 2011) Pope Benedict XVI ushered in Christmas of 2011 for over a billion Catholics worldwide with a Christmas Eve Mass on Saturday night in St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome. On Christmas Day, he delivered his traditional “Urbi et Orbi” Christmas message and blessing, and greeted the people of the world in over 60 languages. A cardinal standing next to the Pope announced that all those following the event in St. Peter’s Square as well as via radio, TV and other media technologies, could obtain a plenary or full indulgence in keeping with the rules established by the Catholic Church. An indulgence is the full or partial remission of temporal punishment in purgatory, due for sins which have already been forgiven. There are a number of conditions that a person seeking an indulgence must fulfil, most importantly a total detachment from sin. Hence those receiving the Pope’s special Christmas blessing could obtain a full indulgence.
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