An extra Jubilee year for Our Lady of Loreto

Archbishop Fabio dal Cin, Pontifical Delegate to the Shrine at Loreto announced that Pope Francis is extending the Lauretan Jubilee to December 2021. In his words, he thanked the Pope for a gift that allows people to enjoy for another 12 months the benefits of this spiritual jubilee in this time of pandemic. The Jubilee was granted on the occasion of the hundredth anniversary of the proclamation by Pope Benedict XV of Our Lady of Loreto, Patroness of all airmen.

Imparting the news from the Shrine of the Holy House, the Archbishop said, "In this difficult time for mankind, Holy Mother Church gives us another 12 months to start anew with Christ, letting us be accompanied by Mary, a sign of consolation and sure hope for all." The Jubilee was officially inaugurated on December 8th, the feast of the Immaculate Conception, with the opening of the Holy Door presided over by Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin, but "unfortunately not celebrated in all its entirety because of the Covid-19 epidemic."

An Apostolic Decree issued on July 16th by the Apostolic Penitentiary states that there will be for another 12 months to experience grace and forgiveness for all the faithful who visit the Pontifical Shrine. Grace which also extends to the many chapels of the civil airports and air force bases around the world.

Following Saturday’s Vigil for the Solemnity of the Assumption, Archbishop Dal Cin recalled the many times during the year, in which the Pope expressed his closeness to the Shrine: in his visit on March 25, 2019 where he signed the Apostolic Exhortation to the Young Christus Vivit; in the concession and extension of the Lauretan Jubilee; in the inscription on December 10th in the Roman calendar the optional memorial of the Blessed Virgin of Loreto, and finally with the inclusion in the Lauretan Litanies of three new invocations ‘Mother of Mercy’ (Mater Misericordiae), ‘Mother of Hope’ (Mater Spei), and ‘Consolation of Migrants’ (Solacium migrantium).

Adapted from Vatican News, August 15, 2020