Hasn't that been causing trouble in the Catholic Church for over 800 years? I think that is one issue that Martin Luther was pretty upset about (among several).
Those who attack the Church for its use of indulgences rely upon—and take advantage of—the ignorance of both Catholics and non-Catholics.
What is an indulgence? The Church explains, "An indulgence is a remission before God of the temporal punishment due to sins whose guilt has already been forgiven, which the faithful Christian who is duly disposed gains under certain defined conditions through the Church’s help when, as a minister of redemption, she dispenses and applies with authority the treasury of the satisfactions won by Christ and the saints" (Indulgentarium Doctrina 1). To see the biblical foundations for indulgences, see the Catholic Answers tract A Primer on Indulgences.Myth 7: A person used to be able to buy indulgences.
One never could "buy" indulgences. The financial scandal surrounding indulgences, the scandal that gave Martin Luther an excuse for his heterodoxy, involved alms—indulgences in which the giving of alms to some charitable fund or foundation was used as the occasion to grant the indulgence. There was no outright selling of indulgences. The Catholic Encyclopedia states: "[I]t is easy to see how abuses crept in. Among the good works which might be encouraged by being made the condition of an indulgence, almsgiving would naturally hold a conspicuous place. . . . It is well to observe that in these purposes there is nothing essentially evil. To give money to God or to the poor is a praiseworthy act, and, when it is done from right motives, it will surely not go unrewarded."
“As soon as the coin in the coffer rings, the soul from purgatory springs,” Father Johann Tetzel
No, it "caused trouble" for about 40 years, almost 500 years ago.
Why do you think it "causes trouble" now? (If, by "causes trouble," you mean "is unfortunately rather neglected and forgotten about," I'll grant your point, but otherwise, I don't see it at all.)
You do realize that Luther was a paranoid, schizophrenic, anti-semitic, alcoholic who couldn't control his libido, don't you? Hardly the type of person you want to hitch your doctrinal wagon to, unless you're content being ignorant.
I think that the problem was selling indulgences, and it wasn’t the Pope that did it.