Pope hands out indulgences

Last Monday the Vatican announced that pope Benedict XVI will hand out indulgences to young people who attend the upcoming World Youth Days in Cologne, Germany. Not sure if the media picked this up, because the Vatican sends out press releases in Latin and Italian. The first is a dead languague, the second the language of the maffia, so that explains it. But the fact that a German pope on his first public appearance outside the Vatican, decides to hand out indulgences in what is also the homeland of the reformation, is quite incredible.

The deal is simple: you show you're a good Catholic by showing up on the WYD, and the church will grant you less time in purgatory. Who does the pope think he is - JESUS? ;-) Anyway, I told you this pope will bring us back to the reformation times. Germany is on God's agenda and a new reformation will start here that will once again shake the Roman empire.

Comments

[Gabi]

Ooops. I've just read it. Highlights' rough translation: "if someone participates with full devotion, the entire time of WYD then s/he can get full indulgences, partial indulgences go to those who are with broken heart, among fervent prayer ask God that the young christians would
-proclaim their faith more
-be confirmed in love
-respect their parents
-life according to the standards of the Gospel/Good News and the Mother Church (???) in their families or in their vocations/jobs God has given each person."
Interesting. Maybe you SHOULD pursue that interview with him after all...

[carl]

that's amazing...does anyone know when the last time indulgences were promised was? I mean, are we talking hundreds of years?

[Marc]

No, I don't think so. Limited indulgences can be given by bishops, archbishops and cardinals. The pope obviously can give out an unlimited number of indulgences (it sounds like giving out stocks, right), also to dead people. So I think it's a quite regular practice, although now it's happening on a massive scale (with 800,000 young people gathered from all over the world), right in Martin Luther's home country. It was the issue with the indulgences that more or less kick-started the 16th century reformation. As this is the new pope's first public appearance/trip outside the Vatican, the symbolic meaning of this act is huge.

[Esther]

It confuses me a bit.. are you saying that he does this on purpose, as to pronounce his power ánd trigger a new reformation? Or is it rahter the opposite: he so strongly believes in this 'method' of finding forgiveness and grace, that the only response could be as radical as a new reformation?

[Marc van der Woude]

Hey, now you are confusing me a bit. ;-) What I'm trying to say is:

1. I believe a new reformation is coming to the church and Germany as a nation will (once again) play a shaping role in this. This is a prophetic statement, not linked to the pope in any way.

2. That the new pope is a German who has his first public appearance outside the Vatican in Germany, and then decides to hand out indulgences on a massive scale is a quite interesting 'coincidence'. Of course he doesn't do this to provoke a reformation, but I do think he intentionally wants to make a statement about the authority of and loyalty to the church.

3. The emerging generation in Europe is on a cross-roads: either call for a new reformation, or stay loyal to the church system.

[Charis]

Wow. This is fascinating news in light of how God orchestrated some intense prophetic intercession among us here in CZ last week. Details to follow as more fullness comes.

[scott]

Wow! Indulgences sure are a quick and easy way to boost attendence I guess. At least they'e not selling them as Tetzle did back in the 16th century (triggering a response from Luther, etc, etc).

On second thought, there is money involved. Even if there are not any registration fees, the local business will certainly prosper. Perhaps the Koln chamber of commerce has worked out a deal with the Vatican?