A plenary indulgence is the remission of all temporal punishment resulting from our sins, thus the effacing of all the temporal punishment of purgatory that we have acquired. One can gain the plenary indulgence for oneself or for the faithful departed, but not for another living person. The plenary indulgence can be gained only once a day and this presupposes:

a) a state of grace,

b) no attachment to venial sin,

c) the accomplishment of the prescribed works.

To gain the plenary indulgence for the Holy Year 2000 a decree of the Apostolic Penitentiary (29/11/1938) asks that the faithful fulfil these conditions:

a) sacramental Confession with the indulgence in mind,

b) Holy Communion if possible on the same day, with the indulgence in mind.

Outside Rome and the Holy Land the Sacred Penitentiary asks that one makes a pilgrimage to the Cathedral Church or other churches designated by the local Ordinary, and assists with devotion to a liturgical ceremony or other pious exercise, eg. Stations of the Cross, the Rosary, etc., ending with the Our Father, the Profession of Faith and the Hail Mary for the Holy Father's intentions.