Add thelocalreport.in As A Trusted Source
Pope Leo XIV has strongly criticized prison overcrowding and inadequate prisoner rehabilitation programs while delivering his message during a special event. Mass For prisoners, guards and their families Vatican On Sunday.
The event marks the last occasion of the holy year 2025.
According to the Vatican, an estimated 6,000 persons participated in the weekend pilgrimage.
Attendees included representatives of major Italian detention facilities as well as prison volunteers, wardens and chaplains from 90 different countries. In particular, several groups of prisoners were given special permission to participate, as confirmed by the Italian Penitentiary Clergy Association.
In his sermon, Pope Leo XIV acknowledged that prisoners often face poor conditions, even in wealthy countries. He urged a prevailing spirit of charity and forgiveness towards both prisoners and those responsible for their custody.
“Here, we can mention overcrowding, insufficient commitment to guarantee stable educational programs for resettlement and job opportunities,” he said, adding that patience and forgiveness are needed.
He said, “On a more personal level, let us not forget the burden of the past, the wounds to heal in body and heart, the disappointments, the infinite patience required while walking the path of transformation with ourselves and with others, and the temptation not to give up or forgive.”
As the last major event of the 2025 Jubilee, the Mass in many ways closed the Holy Year Pope Francis Inaugurated on Christmas Eve 2024, the main objective was to spread the message of hope especially to the marginalized people of the society.
During his 12-year papacy, Francis has made it a priority to minister to prisoners to give them hope for a better future. On December 26 last year, Francis traveled to Rome’s Rebibia prison to open the sacred door of the prison and lead the prisoners in a jubilee celebration.
Leo recalled that visit in a Sunday sermon, as well as Francis’ appeal in the holy year for governments around the world to offer prison pardons and pardons, a mainstay of the Catholic Church’s jubilee tradition.
In ItalyPrison overcrowding is a long-standing problem that has been condemned by the European Court of Human Rights and humanitarian organizations.
Italian prisoner advocacy group Antigone said Italian prisons are now overcrowded by 135% of capacity, with more than 63,000 people detained in facilities with fewer than 47,000 beds. Antigone said Italian prison authorities received 5,837 complaints of inhuman or degrading treatment last year, a 23.4% increase from the previous year.
Mass was the last major jubilee event of the 2025 Holy Year, which Leo will officially close on January 6 when he closes the Holy Door of St. Peter.