Yahoo – AFP,
3 November 2016
One thousand prisoners -- including some lifers -- will take part in a special event at the Vatican this weekend, along with 3,000 family members, prison staff and volunteers.
One thousand prisoners will attend a mass lead by Pope Francis at the Vatican |
One thousand prisoners -- including some lifers -- will take part in a special event at the Vatican this weekend, along with 3,000 family members, prison staff and volunteers.
The
prisoners from 12 countries will have the opportunity on Saturday to confess
and walk through the "Holy Door" at Saint Peter's Basilica, a Jubilee
tradition by which Catholics can ask forgiveness for their sins.
On Sunday,
they will attend a mass lead by Pope Francis. The Argentine pontiff regularly
meets prisoners -- both in Italy and on his trips abroad -- but this is the
first time so many inmates will be received at the Vatican.
The
convicts are expected to come from Britain, Italy, Latvia, Madagascar,
Malaysia, Mexico, the Netherlands, Spain, the US, South Africa, Sweden and
Portugal.
While some
are on probation, others are currently under house arrest or are serving life
sentences and will be escorted by security details, the Vatican said.
At the
mass, they will hear the stories of four people -- including one inmate who
converted and will speak alongside their victim, the brother of someone who was
murdered and had to learn forgiveness, and a prison guard.
The service
will be accompanied by the dulcet tones of a choir of prisoners from Bologna,
while the communion wafers will be special ones made by detainees in a lockup
in Milan.
Next
weekend the pope will hold a similar event for the "socially
marginalised" and homeless. It will be the last before the Jubilee winds
up. "Holy Doors" around the world close on November 13 and the
pontiff will officially declare the year over on November 20.
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