More General Audiences during the Jubilee Year

During the Jubilee Year of Mercy, Pope Francis will hold an additional Saturday General Audience each month.

Archbishop Georg Gänswein, Prefect of the Papal Household, shared this news with Vatican Radio this past weekend. Currently, the Holy Father has a weekly General Audience with the faithful every Wednesday morning in Saint Peter's Square or, at certain times of the year, in the Vatican's Paul VI Hall. There is no cost to attend and pilgrims only need to request tickets in advance.

In the interview, Archbishop Gänswein was asked about General Audiences during the Jubilee Year, and whether there was anything new expected. In response, the prelate said, Yes, there is an important novelty.

In view of the Jubilee Year of Mercy, once a month, a Saturday--we already have established the dates--there will be an extra General Audience, along the lines of the usual General Audience. Then, one will see what to do, but there will be a General Audience with the character of the Jubilee Year, he said.

The dates have not yet been released.

In March, Pope Francis announced the celebration of an extraordinary Holy Year dedicated to Mercy. The Jubilee of Mercy will begin on December 8, 2015, the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception and will conclude on November 20, 2016, the Solemnity of Christ the King.

Collaborating with the Pontiff, the Pontifical Council for Promoting the New Evangelization, led by Archbishop Rino Fisichella, has been entrusted with planning the year's events. The Council created a website available in various languages, which gives explanations, videos, and provides a calendar.