HOLY FATHER,

George Cardinal PELL, Metropolitan Archbishop of Sydney expresses his filial veneration for Your Holiness and in the name of his brother Bishops of Australia and also of the whole of Oceania, as well as all the clergy and the laity entrusted to their care, presents to Your Holiness with the highest respect and trust the following request:

On 1st July of this year the CROSS of WORLD YOUTH DAY 08 will arrive in Australia and will be received with a great outpouring of joy.

The CROSS will also be welcomed in New Zealand and in due course will be brought in pilgrimage throughout all the countries of Oceania and even to the territories of Antarctica.

In order that the Faithful, especially the youth, who make contact with the CROSS of the WYD08 which has been reverently prepared for this XXIII WORLD YOUTH DAY, may be more and more encouraged to hold on to their Faith, and in an open and public manner to give evidence of this Faith, and be assisted to preserve a supernatural Hope, and that they may foster in their hearts a generous Love of God and neighbor, testified by good works, in union with the Universal Church gathered around Your Holiness throughout the whole world, Cardinal Pell respectfully begs you to grant the gift of a Plenary Indulgence...

23rd May 2007

The APOSTOLIC PENITENTIARY, commissioned by the Supreme Pontiff, willingly grants the Plenary Indulgence under the usual conditions (Sacramental Confession, Holy Communion and Prayer for the Pope's Intentions) on the understanding that the requirements are duly fulfilled, and that the faithful are truly repentant, in accompanying the WYD CROSS on its journey through the countries of Oceania; this includes anyone who devotedly takes part in a sacred ceremony carried out publicly in honour of the CROSS of the "WORLD YOUTH DAY" solemnly exposed, or at least be attentive in the presence of this same CROSS by means of access in a public place either in a large crowd or alone, in a state of pious contemplation and prayer, including recitation of the Lord's Prayer and the Profession of Faith in a legitimate creedal formula, and also a prayerful invocation of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

This arrangement will be valid for this one occasion only... Anything to the contrary notwithstanding.

James Francis Cardinal Stafford (Major Penitentiary)
+John Francis Girotti, OFM Conv. (Regent)

What is a Plenary Indulgence?

Indulgences are particular expressions of the mercy of God, and are linked to the effects of the Sacrament of Penance.

The forgiveness of sins restores our communion with God, which is ruptured by serious sin. Unhealthy attachments developed by sins, great and small, require purification in this life or in the next. These the Church calls "temporal punishments due to sin."

This purification takes place through patient bearing of trials and sufferings through charitable and merciful acts, and through prayer.

The Church, as the minister of Christ's redemption, dispenses graces - including indulgences - from the treasury of the gifts given by Christ, through his death and resurrection, and makes them available to those seeking them with sincere heart.
Indulgences are not magical, like all graces they require the proper disposition to receive them. They certainly cannot be sold.

Like all gifts, material or spiritual, given by God, they are to be shared for the building of Christ body, whether on Earth, in purification on the way to Heaven, or in eternal happiness.

Those in Heaven don't need our help, but those in Purgatory do, so we can receive an indulgence for ourselves or for them. The saints in heaven, particularly Mary, the Mother of God, can be of great assistance to us.

Spiritual movements express themselves through physical actions. For the "Plenary" or full indulgence to be obtained, certain physical actions expressing or accompanying the right attitude are required. For the newly granted WYD indulgence to be received, people should:

• devotedly take part in a sacred ceremony carried out publicly in honour of WYD Cross solemnly exposed or at least be attentive in the presence of this corss by means of access in a public place either in a large crowd or alone;
• celebrate Sacrament of Penance (10 days before or after);
• receive Holy Communion (10 days before or after);
• pray for the Pope's intentions;
• recitation of Our Father, the Creed and prayerful invocation of the Blessed Virgin Mary (one Hail Mary).

Like the woman who touched Jesus' garment in faith, she was healed, as power went from him. Or like St Thomas who was invited to put his hand in the side of Christ and his fingers into the holes made by the nails, his unbelieving heart learnt to believe that Jesus was "Lord and God".

(cf ccc 1471-1479)