Just before 8:00am local time this morning, the Holy Father, Pope Francis departed in a helicopter from the Vatican heliport for the Diocese of Cassano all'Jonio where he will conduct a pastoral visit today.
Upon his arrival in Castrovillari at 9:10am, in front of the prison, the Holy Father was welcomed by His Excellency, Nunzio Galantino, the Bishop of Cassano all'Jonio and by His Worship, Dominico Lo Polito, the Mayor of Castrovillari.
The Pope then walked to the Rosetta Sisca prison, greeting the family members of the prison staff along the way, and was welcomed at the entrance by the Director, Doctor Fedele Rizzo. In the interior courtyard, the Pope then met with about 200 men and women who are detained in that prison, along with the prison guards.
Following a word of welcome offered by the Director of the prison and by one of the prisoners, the Holy Father shared a few of his own words with those who were in attendance.
Dear sisters and brothers,
The first gesture of my pastoral visit is this meeting with you, in the prison of Castrovillari. In this way, I wish to express the closeness of the Pope and of the CHurch to every man and every woman who has been imprisoned, in every part of the world. Jesus said: I was in prison and you came to visit me (Mt 25:36).
Among the reflections relative to inmates, one that is often highlighted is the theme of respect for fundamental human rights and the need for corresponding conditions when serving a sentence. This aspect of prison politics is certainly essential and appropriately, we should always respect it, but such a prospect is still not sufficient if it is not accompanied and completed by concrete measures on the part of the institutions aimed at effective re-entry of those incarcerated into society (cf. Benedict XVI, Speech to participants in the 17th Conference of the Directors of Prison Administrations of the Council of Europe, November 22, 2012). When this goal is neglected, the fulfillment of the sentence is degraded to the level of a punishment and social retaliation, which in turn is detrimental both to the individual and to society. God does not do this with us. When God forgives, he always accompanies us and helps us along the way, even in small matters. When we go to confession, the Lord says to us: I forgive you. But now, come with me, and he helps us to find our way. He never condemns us. Never does he simply forgive us; he forgives us and accompanies us on the way. Every one of us is weak, we have to go back to confession again, all of us, but he never gets tired out by our return. Each and every time, he takes us by the hand. This is the love of God, and we should do the same! Society should do the same. Together, we should walk through life in this way.
On the other hand, a true and complete reintegration of the human person does not represent the end of an experience that is merely human. The journey also involves a meeting with God, the ability to allow ourselves to be guided by God who loves. It is more difficult to allow ourselves to be guided by God than it is to see God. It is more difficult to allow ourselves to be met by God than it is to meet God because within each of us there is always a resistance. He is waiting for you, He is watching over you, he is always close to you ... this God who loves, who is capable of understanding us, capable of forgiving our wrongdoings. The Lord is a master at reintegration: he takes us by the hand and places us in the midst of society. The Lord always forgives, always accompanies, always understands; he waits for us to allow ourselves to be understood, to allow ourselves to be forgiven, to allow ourselves to be accompanied.
My hope for all of you is that this time will not be wasted, but that it may be a precious time, during which you may ask of God and obtain this grace. If you do this, you will first of all help yourselves to be the best persons you can be, but at the same time you will also help this community because for better or for worse, our actions have an influence on others, and on the whole human family.
I wish to express a kind word at this time to your families: may the Lord embrace them in serenity and peace.
And finally, a word of encouragement to all of you who work in this place: to the Directors, to the prison police officers and to all the staff. With all my heart, I bless you all and I confide you to the protection of Mary our Mother. And please, I ask you to pray for me, because I too make mistakes and have to do penance. Thank you.
Upon his arrival in Castrovillari at 9:10am, in front of the prison, the Holy Father was welcomed by His Excellency, Nunzio Galantino, the Bishop of Cassano all'Jonio and by His Worship, Dominico Lo Polito, the Mayor of Castrovillari.
The Pope then walked to the Rosetta Sisca prison, greeting the family members of the prison staff along the way, and was welcomed at the entrance by the Director, Doctor Fedele Rizzo. In the interior courtyard, the Pope then met with about 200 men and women who are detained in that prison, along with the prison guards.
Following a word of welcome offered by the Director of the prison and by one of the prisoners, the Holy Father shared a few of his own words with those who were in attendance.
Speech of the Holy Father, Pope Francis
for the meeting at the Rosetta Sisca prison
Castrovillari, Calabria
Dear sisters and brothers,
The first gesture of my pastoral visit is this meeting with you, in the prison of Castrovillari. In this way, I wish to express the closeness of the Pope and of the CHurch to every man and every woman who has been imprisoned, in every part of the world. Jesus said: I was in prison and you came to visit me (Mt 25:36).
Among the reflections relative to inmates, one that is often highlighted is the theme of respect for fundamental human rights and the need for corresponding conditions when serving a sentence. This aspect of prison politics is certainly essential and appropriately, we should always respect it, but such a prospect is still not sufficient if it is not accompanied and completed by concrete measures on the part of the institutions aimed at effective re-entry of those incarcerated into society (cf. Benedict XVI, Speech to participants in the 17th Conference of the Directors of Prison Administrations of the Council of Europe, November 22, 2012). When this goal is neglected, the fulfillment of the sentence is degraded to the level of a punishment and social retaliation, which in turn is detrimental both to the individual and to society. God does not do this with us. When God forgives, he always accompanies us and helps us along the way, even in small matters. When we go to confession, the Lord says to us: I forgive you. But now, come with me, and he helps us to find our way. He never condemns us. Never does he simply forgive us; he forgives us and accompanies us on the way. Every one of us is weak, we have to go back to confession again, all of us, but he never gets tired out by our return. Each and every time, he takes us by the hand. This is the love of God, and we should do the same! Society should do the same. Together, we should walk through life in this way.
On the other hand, a true and complete reintegration of the human person does not represent the end of an experience that is merely human. The journey also involves a meeting with God, the ability to allow ourselves to be guided by God who loves. It is more difficult to allow ourselves to be guided by God than it is to see God. It is more difficult to allow ourselves to be met by God than it is to meet God because within each of us there is always a resistance. He is waiting for you, He is watching over you, he is always close to you ... this God who loves, who is capable of understanding us, capable of forgiving our wrongdoings. The Lord is a master at reintegration: he takes us by the hand and places us in the midst of society. The Lord always forgives, always accompanies, always understands; he waits for us to allow ourselves to be understood, to allow ourselves to be forgiven, to allow ourselves to be accompanied.
My hope for all of you is that this time will not be wasted, but that it may be a precious time, during which you may ask of God and obtain this grace. If you do this, you will first of all help yourselves to be the best persons you can be, but at the same time you will also help this community because for better or for worse, our actions have an influence on others, and on the whole human family.
I wish to express a kind word at this time to your families: may the Lord embrace them in serenity and peace.
And finally, a word of encouragement to all of you who work in this place: to the Directors, to the prison police officers and to all the staff. With all my heart, I bless you all and I confide you to the protection of Mary our Mother. And please, I ask you to pray for me, because I too make mistakes and have to do penance. Thank you.
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