In 1122, Pope Calixtus II issued a bull confirming the special privileges attached to pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela. Among them was an indulgence for pilgrims who made the journey with devotion. Nine centuries later, the Church still offers this indulgence — and during the Holy Year 2027, it takes the form of a plenary indulgence of exceptional scope.
This guide explains what indulgences are, why the Camino carries one, and what the conditions are for receiving it.
What Is an Indulgence?
An indulgence is the remission of the temporal punishment due to sins that have already been forgiven. The Church's teaching on indulgences is grounded in the theology of sin, forgiveness, and satisfaction.
When a sin is forgiven in the sacrament of confession, the eternal punishment (separation from God) is removed. But sin also carries temporal consequences — a disorder in the soul's relationship to God and creation that requires healing. This healing (satisfaction) is partly accomplished in this life through penance, prayer, and good works; what remains unfulfilled at death is purified in purgatory.
An indulgence, granted by the Church from the treasury of merit accumulated by Christ and the saints, remits some or all of this temporal punishment:
- A partial indulgence remits part of the temporal punishment.
- A plenary indulgence remits all of it.
Indulgences do not forgive sins — that belongs to the sacrament of confession. They address the temporal consequences of sins already forgiven.
The Church's authority to grant indulgences is grounded in Matthew 16:19 ("Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven") and the Church's role as steward of the treasury of merit.
The Santiago Indulgence in Ordinary Years
In ordinary (non-Holy Year) years, pilgrims who arrive at Santiago de Compostela can receive a plenary indulgence attached to the pilgrimage by fulfilling the standard conditions. These conditions typically include:
- Visiting the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela
- Attending Mass and receiving Holy Communion in the Cathedral
- Praying for the Pope's intentions
- Making a sacramental confession within 15 days before or after the visit
The conditions apply to visits to major pilgrimage sites under plenary indulgence grants. The Cathedral of Santiago holds permanent status as a site where the faithful can receive this grace.
The indulgence is available to those who complete the pilgrimage with a religious or spiritual intention — not merely as a cultural or athletic activity. This is why the Pilgrim Office asks about pilgrim motivation when issuing the Compostela.
The Plenary Indulgence of the Holy Year
A Compostelan Holy Year (Año Santo Compostelano) occurs when the feast of St James (July 25) falls on a Sunday. In a Holy Year, the special conditions for a plenary indulgence are amplified: the Holy Door (Puerta Santa) of the Cathedral is opened, and passing through it is the central act that, together with the other conditions, secures the Holy Year indulgence.
The next Holy Year is 2027.
Conditions for the Holy Year plenary indulgence:
- Pass through the Holy Door of the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela (open only during Holy Years)
- Attend Mass and receive Holy Communion in the Cathedral
- Recite the Creed, an Our Father, and a prayer for the Pope's intentions
- Make a sacramental confession within 15 days before or after the visit
The confession does not need to take place in Santiago — any confessor anywhere in the world suffices, provided the penitent is in the state of grace when they visit the Cathedral.
Historical Background
The practice of granting special indulgences to pilgrims to Santiago dates to the early medieval period. The significance of the Compostelan Holy Year was formalized in the 12th century, and successive popes have confirmed and renewed the privilege. Pope Francis renewed the tradition of the Compostelan Holy Year indulgence in a Bull of 2021.
The theology underlying it reflects the Church's understanding of pilgrimage as a public penitential act — an acknowledgment of the soul's need for healing, expressed in physical effort, sacrifice of comfort, and intentional movement toward the holy. The indulgence is the Church's formal response to that act of faith.
Practical Conditions
State of grace: The plenary indulgence cannot be received in a state of mortal sin. Confession before or after the visit (within 15 days) is the standard means of ensuring the state of grace.
Freedom from attachment to sin: For a plenary indulgence to be received fully, the recipient must be entirely free from attachment to any sin — even venial sin. The Church recognizes that this perfect disposition is rare; where attachment remains, the indulgence is received partially.
Sincere intention: The pilgrimage must be undertaken with a religious or spiritual intention, not merely as exercise or tourism.
No walking requirement for the indulgence: The plenary indulgence is not attached to the number of kilometers walked — it is attached to the visit to the Cathedral and the fulfillment of the conditions. A pilgrim who flies to Santiago, walks into the Cathedral through the Holy Door, attends Mass, and fulfills the conditions receives the same indulgence as one who walked 780 km. However, the Compostela certificate (which requires 100 km walked) and the indulgence are separate things.
The Indulgence and the Compostela
These are two distinct things:
| Compostela | Holy Year Indulgence | |
|---|---|---|
| Granted by | Cathedral Chapter | The Church (through the Pope) |
| Requires | 100 km walked + stamped credential | Visit to Cathedral + sacramental conditions |
| Nature | Certificate of pilgrimage | Remission of temporal punishment |
| Available | Every year | Holy Years only (for the Holy Door form) |
A pilgrim can receive both, either, or neither — depending on what they walk and what conditions they fulfill.
Further Resources
- Official Pilgrim Office Santiago — Pilgrim Mass, Holy Door, and Compostela information
- Holy Year 2027 guide — Planning for the next Compostelan Holy Year
- Pilgrim Credential and Compostela explained
- Confraternity of Saint James — Pilgrimage resources and planning
