Offer closes December 8, 2008

Pope Benedict XVI is offering relief from purgatory to Roman Catholics who travel to Lourdes over the next year, the Vatican said yesterday.

Pilgrims to the shrine in south-west France will receive "plenary indulgences" from the Pontiff, which the Church says reduce the time spent being "washed" of sin after death. The indulgences will be available from this weekend until Dec 8, 2008.

[...] In August the Vatican opened an airline service offering pilgrims direct flights from Rome to Lourdes.

-- Daily Telegraph, 7 Dec 2007