Encyclical Letter of the Pope Pius IX., Announcing a Jubilee.
To all Patriarchs, Primates, Archbishops, Bishops, and other Ordinaries of Places having Grace and Communion with the Apostolic See, and to all Faithful Christians.
Venerable Brothers and Beloved Sons, Health and Apostolical Benediction: Moved not only by the grave calamities of the Church and of this century, but also by the necessity of imploring Divine aid, we have never omitted in the time of our pontificate to arouse the Christian people, in order that they might strive to appease the majesty of God and merit celestial clemency by holy habits of life, by works of penitence, and by pious and dutiful continuance in prayer. To this end we have, with apostolic liberality, several times opened to the faithful the spiritual treasures of the indulgences in order that, animated thereby to the penitence and purged by the sacrament of reconciliation from the stains of sin, they might be able to approach the throne of grace with more confidence, and be worthy of their prayers being benignantly received by God. This also, as at other times, we especially considered our duty to fulfill on the occasion of the Ecumenical Vatican Council, in order that the very grave work undertaken for the benefit of the Universal Church might at the same time, by the prayer of the whole Church, be furthered in the fight of the Almighty; and, although the celebration of the same Council remained suspended, through the calamities of the times, we nevertheless declared and made known for the good of the faithful people that the indulgence to follow it in the form of a jubilee, promulgated on the occasion, continued as it still remains, in all its force, firmness, and vigor.
In Peaceful Times.