Salvo, the name of this 30-something man who signed up for confession at the prison where I serve as a chaplain, kept on speaking.

I wasn't sure whether he was talking to God or to me. I just nodded.

Moments earlier, my hands were placed over his, which were in handcuffs, before he held them in front of his face to pray, half in English, half in Spanish.

The two of us, he in his orange jumpsuit and me in my black clerical shirt and trousers, sat next to each other at one of the hexagonal metal tables in the middle of the cell block, visible to other inmates in the tiers above and below us.

Some of them peered out of the small plastic windows on their cell doors.

The guard who brought Salvo down from "the Hole" 15 minutes earlier, after shackling his hands and feet with chains, glanced up from his desk about 10 yards away from us as I placed my hands back on the table.

I was aware of how intimate this praying looked. I didn't mind. The tears said it all, to God if not to anyone else.

Today was a day of tears.

Unusual for the men in prison, most of whom have to keep up a tough front. Often, they keep this stance with me too, even when in private, let alone when I meet them on the cell block instead of my office, as I have to meet those who are in protective custody.

I believe if they can find one space to weep and be real with another person and before God, it will lead to their peace of mind and ability to be strong.

I wait for them to pull themselves together before they go back to their cells.

The whole dynamic of hearing confessions in prison is incredible.

Quite a few guys have told me that they believe God got them into prison to save them from heading in the wrong direction.

I use this awesome role of confessor to encourage them to foster this spark of God's love for them, not to waste it.

To ask for forgiveness from Jesus who came for this reason. And most of all, to be determined to continue this prayer relationship with God that they have discovered on the inside of the prison when they get outside.

Usually when I finish a visit with one of them, whether it is a formal confession or not, I say, "Do you want to pray?"

"Yes," they invariably say, as though it is normal for two men to share their souls together.

I open my hands on the table between us, face up. As though they are children, they place their hands in mine.

I have no idea what these hands may have done — robbed? Sold drugs? Abused someone? "Go ahead," I say, waiting for them to start.

"Oh no, you do it," most respond.

"No, you do it," I say.

But I usually have to. They aren't quite ready to launch out into this God territory with a virtual stranger, even one they amazingly trust because I am "Father" to them.

I bow my head, feeling the calloused hands of a tough guy who would ordinarily never be resting his hands in another's so vulnerably. Continue reading

• Paul Morrissey, O.S.A., is a priest in residence at St. Augustine Church in Philadelphia, Penn. He served as a Catholic chaplain at the Philadelphia Prison from 2007 to 2019. This article has been excerpted from his forthcoming memoir Touched by God: Confessions of a Prison Chaplain.

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The group (pictured along with their accompanying escort), met Francis at Casa Santa Marta early in the morning before visiting the Vatican museums.

With them, they brought a basket of bread they had baked earlier in the day to give to Francis.

Theirs is a prison for people with addictive disorders. It includes a treatment centre and programme for those with substance abuse problems.

In common with many people during the 2020 COVID-19 lockdown, the prisoners started baking bread. The prison director Anna Maria Trapazzo told Francis that they will open a store soon and would be happy to welcome him there any time.

Francis has often shown his concern for prisoners.

Meeting them at his home is just one way he shows this.

Last year, for instance, he offered a Mass for prisoners after some inmates from prisons across Italy rioted when they were told the government had banned family visits because of the COVID-19 pandemic. At least 12 prisoners died within three days as a result of the violence.

The chaplain accompanying the prisoners to the Vatican said fear about the virus contributed to the tense situation.

Other situations where Francis showed compassion to prisoners include choosing a prison chaplain to write the meditations for the papal Stations of the Cross on Good Friday 2020 and - before the pandemic - washing prisoners' feet at Holy Thursday Mass.

Francis told his visitors that "It is important to seek out what is positive at a time when life is not at its most beautiful. Seek the positive in order to keep going forward."

The chaplain said the visiting prisoners and all others detainees he has met have deep affection and great esteem for Francis.

He said this is partly because of his many prison visits and also because of his constant calls for treating the incarcerated people with dignity and making a serious commitment to their rehabilitation.

Source

• Catholic News Service
• Angelus News
• Image: Angelus News

While he agrees prisoners must pay the price for the crimes they have committed, the punishment can be effective "only when inmates are helped to look toward the future rather than only back at a past lived out in shame", Francis said to prisoners at the Ezeiza federal penitentiary in Argentina via a video message.

"Let us not forget that for punishment to be fruitful it must have a horizon of hope. Otherwise it remains closed in itself and is just an instrument of torture; it isn't fruitful."

The inmates are taking part in the prison's university programme.

Francis says the programme and others like it provide "a space for work, culture, progress" and are "a sign of humanity".

Francis used to visit the prison when he was living in Argentina.

He still stays in touch via Sunday phone calls which he makes each week.

This week's video message was a special communication, sent to mark the occasion of the opening of a musical course for inmates, carried out in cooperation with the University of Buenos Aires.

Source

• Patheos
• Catholic Herald
• Image: Latina Lista
  

Their families joined them at St. Peter's Basilica for Mass with Pope Francis, followed by a special reception. Read more

The cards are a revision of the cards produced in 2009 which invite the recipients to pray for particular individuals who are currently in prison. There was a great response from parishioners and many prisoners were moved to think that they were being prayed for specifically.

The new edition cards will be given out on the weekend of the 6th of November along with some suggested prayers of the faithful to be included in the Masses that day.
Parishioners are encouraged to pray for all those in prison, their families, the victims of their crime, and those who minister or work with prisoners.

Let us pray:
Let us pray: For all who are in prison, breathe new life into their hearts, support them in their pain and loneliness give them the courage and fortitude to strive for a transformed life upon release.For the families of those in prison who are living their own sentence of worry, loneliness and isolation, and caring for children. May they know your loving support For all who work with people in prison that they may carry out their duties with sensitivity, understanding and compassion. For all chaplains and volunteers who minister in prison: may they see your face in all they meet, be quick to console and slow to judge and thus carry a message of mercy, hope and forgiveness Bless those who minister in prisons: may they always reflect the love of Christ to all in need. For our communities, that we may always be welcoming and hospitable communities supportive of those starting new lives.

A prayer card will also be distributed to prisoners through the Prison Chaplaincy Service.

For more information please contact, Simone Olsen, Communications Adviser, 021 611 052

The Church's media spokesperson, Father Ioane Ono, confirmed this when contacted by the Samoa Observer.

Ono said while he knew prisoners had assisted with the demolition of the old Cathedral, he was unaware they were being used to help with its construction of its replacement until Father Ricky Bernard told about it after he, Ono, had been leading a service at Mulivai a while ago.

Bernard, according to Ono, is the leading carpenter at the project.

"I am not sure what has been worked out between Father Bernard and the prison," he said. "All I knew was they were helping."

He said the prisoners were only on the Church grounds on Saturday - and they assist Fr. Bernard from morning until afternoon.

He dismissed questions about the safety of members of the public and the risk of prisoners running away.

He said when the prisoners are at the Cathedral they are accompanied by Police officers.

Source

• Samoa Observer
• Image: Facebook

The archbishops, John Dew, Justin Duckworth and Philip Richardson (above) say a justice system, levels of offending, and victims' needs and rights, are often summed up through statistics when it is actually about people.

They say, victims have needs and rights and offenders also need to face what they have done and be reintegrated into society.

The leaders share a concern that while the crime rate is falling in New Zealand, the level of incarceration in prisons has increased in the past four years and rates of reoffending remain high.

The archbishops question whether prison is the effective remedy for all who offend to be able to turn their lives around.

Their request accompanies the prayer vigil for victims, prisoners and their families outside Wellington Cathedral of St Paul by the Anglican Bishop of Wellington, Justin Duckworth.

The archbishops went and prayed with Bishop Justin today and want to encourage conversations and awareness about the issue.

The archbishops believe the Christian community can express hope and influence across society.

They say while there have been some good initiatives taken to reduce reoffending by prisoners on release, we need to ask ourselves as churches and society if there is more that can be done for victims and offenders and so for the common good of all.

Source

• Media Release NZCBC
• Image: NZCBC

After refusing to acknowledge the practice for a long time, Chinese authorities admitted it last Sunday, insisting however that only prisoners who volunteered their organs were involved, Xinhua reported today, citing Vice Health Minister Huang Jiefu.

The decision does not stem from any humanitarian considerations, but from the fact that the practice is very risky.

"People speak ferociously even against the Pope, but nonetheless we have to move on," the pontiff said.

Despite the surroundings and a hectic Christmas schedule, Pope Benedict looked to be in good form.

Sympathic to their situation, Pope Benedict told prisoners that overcrowding in prisons was "double sentence" and whatever their offence it could not erase their dignity.

"I know that overcrowding and degradation in prison can make detention even more bitter," he told representatives of several hundred inmates of the prison, which has 500 more inmates than the 1,240 it was built to hold.

"Prisoners are human beings who are worthy, despite their crime, of being treated with respect and dignity," he said.

"I know that you live in a very difficult situation that often, instead of helping to renew your friendship with God and humanity, makes the situation worse," he told a prisoner named Rocco who asked him if politicians knew what prisoners endure.

Benedict greeted personally a number of prisoners and answered their questions, unscripted, for about half an hour.

He heard one African, Omar, speak of "our suffering and that of our families." Another African, Okai, asked: "Does God listen only to the rich?"

An Italian inmate named Federico complained that inmates who are HIV positive are looked at "ferociously."

One prisoner read "The prayer from behind bars" which he had composed.

Benedict's visit to the prison happened just two days after Italy's new government announced extraordinary measures to improve prison conditions.

Sources

• CNS
• Reuters
• Associated Press
• Image: NewsDaily