(Vatican Radio) Nineteen inmates of the Italian prisons of Pisa and Pianosa were received
in a private meeteing by Pope Francis on Wednesday morning , 19th February, in the
Casa Santa Marta , before the weekly General Audience . The Vatican daily L’Osservatore
Romano reported the news that the Pope prayed with them and blessed them before the
image of " Our Lady who unties knots ," especially dear to him. Then he greeted each
of them and listened to them one by one. He shared words of mercy and forgiveness
in particular, for one inmate who gave him a personal letter.
The inmates were
on a spiritual pilgrimage to Rome and were accompanied by two chaplains. They met
with Pope Francis after attending an early morning Mass celebrated by Archbishop Lorenzo
Baldisseri in the Vatican Grottoes. Informed of their presence , the Pope wanted
to personally meet them and welcomed them into his home, at 9 am. Also on hand for
the forty-five minute long encounter were the director of the penitentiary Pianosa
, magistrates, and prison guards.
Archbishop Baldisseri described the meeting
as " beautiful and moving ."