The Granting of Indulgences

Indulgences are granted by the pope, and by the bishop for his subjects, and by the official who exercises the bishop’s jurisdiction in a diocese. Indulgences cannot be granted by others, such as abbots, or parish priests.

Sometimes a person who is not in holy orders can grant an indulgence; for example, a layman who has been designated bishop, has not yet been ordained or consecrated, but who has taken over the rule of his diocese. The power of granting indulgencesdoes not belong to the sacrament of holy orders, but to jurisdiction or authoritative rule in the Church.

The fullness of power to grant indulgences resides in him who has the fullness of jurisdiction in the Church, that is,the pope. This power is shared, in the measure of the pope’swishes, to the bishops of the Church.

A man in mortal sin cannot gain an indulgence. But aman with jurisdiction, who is himself in mortal sin, can grant an indulgence to be gained by those disposed to gain it. For this remission of temporal punishment due to sin is not accomplished through the holiness of the person who grants an indulgence, but bythe objective application of merits drawn from the spiritual treasury of the Church.