Pope Francis will hand out indulgences via Twitter

In an effort to use social media to communicate with Catholics around the world, the Pope will begin to give relief from the time penalty for sins via Twitter, writes Mashable.



Pope Francis will hand out “full indulgences” - which, according to the Catholic doctrine, are a special act to reduce the time spent in purgatory - to his followers on Twitter. Prior to this, the Pope used to give indulgences to believers in person.



The news was announced while the Pope is preparing for a trip to the World Youth Festival in Brazil next week. As the Guardian wrote, Catholics will be able to follow online the “rituals and pious rites” that the Pope will perform in Brazil.

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Subscribers on Twitter, who previously confessed their sins, received absolution and attended the Mass, will be able to receive indulgence, for which they will need to follow the broadcast of the event.



However, the Vatican warns: “Getting an indulgence is not the same thing as getting coffee from a coffee machine. It is not enough just to watch the mass online or the broadcast of Pope Francis on the iPad or via the Pope2You.net website. These are just devices. ”



“What really matters is that a tweet that the Pope will send from Brazil, or photos from World Youth Day, will produce genuine spiritual fruit in a person’s heart,” the Papal Council said.