You may have heard the story. On Dec. 9 in 1531, as he headed to the city of Mexico on the path of Tepeyac, a humble man named Juan Diego saw a vision of a young woman covered with light. De seguro que todos conocemos la historia: un 9 de Diciembre en 1531, mientras se encaminaba a la ciudad de México por el camino del Tepeyac, un hombre humilde llamado Juan diego vio una visión de una joven mujer cubierta de Luz, quien después describió era la Siempre Virgen santa María.

In a letter to Archbishop Rino Fisichella, president of the Pontifical Council for the Promotion of New Evangelization, the office organizing events for the holy year, Pope Francis’ explained expanded opportunities for obtaining indulgences that are a normal part of the celebration of a holy year.

Pope Francis announced a Jubilee Year of Mercy to begin Dec. 8 and to end Nov. 20, 2016. “The time has come for the Church to take up the joyful call to mercy once more,” since the church’s “very credibility is seen in how she shows merciful and compassionate love,” Pope Francis said.