Pope Francis to Allow Plenary Indulgences Through Twitter

Over the past decade, Twitter has become the social media site where individuals from every corner of the Internet-accessible world are able to connect with their favorite celebrities, potential employers, faith leaders and acquaintances.

More recently, however, the site has gained recognition for its most intriguing offering yet: forgiveness. Media outlets have been reporting that the Catholic Church will be using the social media platform to help adherents cut away some of the time that they'll spend in purgatory when they die. But does the Vatican really endorse this “Tweet your way to heaven” policy?

Though indulgences -- sacred works performed by faithful Catholics in order to reduce time in purgatory -- are a real part of Catholic tradition, the latest development seems, at least at first glance, controversial. The Vatican is now affording certain Catholics the chance to earn indulgences without leaving the comfort of their desktops.

Pope Francis blesses a man on July 14, 2013, at the end of his first Angelus prayer in front of his summer residence in Castel Gandolfo, 40 kms southeast of Rome. Credit: AFP/Getty Images

Faithful Catholics in a “state of grace” (a member of the Church, not excommunicated or in schism) who cannot afford to or are unable to be physically present for events offering attendees indulgences can still qualify by interacting via social media and watching the live events.

Some would argue that the private works of worshipers should be kept out of the public [Twitter]sphere. Could this move to permit virtual acts of penance be perceived as the Church’s effort to evolve with the technological times, or is this just some scheme developed by lazy individuals looking for free acquittal of sins? In this modern age of instant gratification and rapid results, will we witness religious institutions conforming to this same mentality?

The speculation surrounding the Vatican’s alleged virtual indulgence policy stemmed from a concern about equality among indulgence candidates. The issue was that those unable to attend events like this year’s Catholic World Youth Day in Rio de Janeiro on July 22 would potentially forgo the chance to obtain a plenary indulgence.

There are guidelines for this new policy, though. President of the Pontifical Council for Social Communication, Monsignor Claudio Maria Celli, told Sacred Apostolic Penitentiary, “These [social tools] are just devices. What really counts is that the Tweet that the Pope will send from Brazil or the photos from Word Youth Day produce genuine spiritual fruit in the heart of the person.”

In addition to the official Vatican News, Vatican Communication and Pope Francis Twitter accounts, the Guardian reported that the Vatican has also set up an online news portal backed by an app, a Facebook page and a Pinterest.

Critics of the Vatican’s decision will have to wait until July 22 to observe how the new policy fares with leaders and members of the Catholic community.

(H/T: Guardian)