Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., issued the following notice on a new decree from Rome: On October 28, 2021,  the Holy See extended the pandemic provision for obtaining a plenary indulgence for the faithful departed during the month of November, traditionally regarded as the month of the Holy Souls in Purgatory.

D E C R E E

THE Apostolic PENITENTIARY, having listened to the various pleas recently received from various Sacred Pastors of the Church, due to the continuing state of the pandemic, confirms and extends for the entire month of November 2021 all the spiritual benefits already granted on 22 October 2020, through the Decree Protocol No. 791/20/I with which, due to the “Covid-19” pandemic, the Plenary Indulgences for the deceased faithful were extended for the entire month of November 2020.

From the renewed generosity of the Church, the faithful will certainly draw pious intentions and spiritual vigour to guide their lives according to the Gospel law, in filial communion and devotion to the Supreme Pontiff, the visible foundation and Pastor of the Catholic Church.

This Decree is valid for the entire month of November, notwithstanding any provision to the contrary.

Given in Rome, at the Seat of the Apostolic Penitentiary, 27 October 2021.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church reminds us: “An indulgence is a remission before God of the temporal punishment due to sins whose guilt has already been forgiven, which the faithful Christian who is duly disposed gains under certain prescribed conditions through the action of the Church which, as the minister of redemption, dispenses and applies with authority the treasury of the satisfactions of Christ and the saints (n. 1471).”

In this particular provision, the indulgence is applied to the soul of a deceased person.

In general, the gaining of indulgences requires certain prescribed conditions and, in some instances, the performance of certain prescribed works.

To gain indulgences, whether plenary or partial, it is necessary that the faithful be in the state of grace at least at the time the indulgenced work is completed. 

A plenary indulgence can be gained only once a day. In order to obtain it, the faithful must, in addition to being in the state of grace: 

— have the interior disposition of complete detachment from sin, even venial sin;
— have sacramentally confessed their sins;
— receive the Holy Eucharist (it is certainly better to receive it while participating in Holy Mass, but for the indulgence only Holy Communion is required);
— pray for the intentions of the Supreme Pontiff.

It is appropriate, but not necessary, that the sacramental Confession and especially Holy Communion and the prayer for the Pope's intentions take place on the same day that the indulgenced work is performed; but it is sufficient that these sacred rites and prayers be carried out within several days (about 20) before or after the indulgenced act. Prayer for the Pope's intentions is left to the choice of the faithful, but an "Our Father" and a "Hail Mary" are suggested. One sacramental Confession suffices for several plenary indulgences, but a separate Holy Communion and a separate prayer for the Holy Father's intentions are required for each plenary indulgence.