Papal Blessings Parchments

Written Papal Blessings on Parchment for various special occasions are distributed by the Office of Papal Charities (the Elmoniseria Apostolica) in the Vatican. This office both collects alms for the Holy Father’s charities and produce Papal Blessings. Proceeds from the distribution of parchments will be given toward the poor in the name of the Holy Father.

The easiest way of requesting a blessing is by visiting the website of the Office for Papal Charities: www.elemosineria.va/papal-blessing-parchments/.  If you are visiting Rome, you may collect your Papal Blessing directly from their office inside the Vatican. The office is open from 8:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays and from 8:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays. The office is closed on Sundays.  Enter through the Sant’Anna Gate (facing St. Peter’s Square, follow the street to the right until you come to the first gate) and let the Swiss Guards know you would like to collect a Papal Blessing. Parchments may also be requested directly at their office. If you are not planning to visit Rome, the Papal Charities Office can mail the blessing to you by DHL Express Courier.

The occasions for which Papal Blessing Parchments are granted are:

  1. Baptism, First Holy Communion, Confirmation (only for a single person)
  2. Marriage
  3. Priestly Ordination
  4. Religious Profession
  5. Ordination of Permanent Deacons
  6. Anniversary (10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80 years) of Marriage*, Priestly Ordination, Religious Profession
  7. Birthday (18, 30, 40, 50, 55, 60, 65,70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95, 100-110 years)*

When an asterisk (*) is given, the person ordering the parchment is asked to make a “declaration of eligibility” (in other words, that the persons for whom the Blessing is intended are both Catholic and practicing), expressed simply by a short declaration, by one’s own responsibility, agreeing to the necessary conditions.

For requests for blessings for birthdays, please note that the requested date is the date of the birthday, not the date of birth.

Unfortunately, requests for papal blessings for occasions other than those indicated cannot be considered in requests made online. On some occasions, e.g., for the anniversary of a Parish, it may be possible to request a Papal blessing if one visits the office of the Papal Charities in person.

The parchments cannot be requested by post or fax or email, but only in person at the Office of Papal Charities or with the online procedure.

Kindly note that the Visitors’ Office is not responsible for processing these requests and only provides information about how to make the request. If you have further questions regarding Papal Blessings that you have requested or already received, please contact the Office of Papal Charities directly.