More than a thousand prisoners and their families are set to take
part, next Saturday and Sunday, November 5 and 6, in the Jubilee of the
prisoners.
In a first ever, people who are in prison will take part in
the Mass celebrated by Pope Francis in St. Peter’s.
The event, presented by Msgr. Rino Fisichella, president of the
Pontifical Council for Promoting the New Evangelization, will involve
more than 4,000 people, of which more than a thousand are currently in
prison, from 12 countries in the world: England, Italy, Latvia,
Madagascar, Malaysia, Mexico , Netherlands, Spain, USA, South Africa,
Sweden and Portugal. "Also of note is the presence of a Lutheran
delegation, from Sweden".
There will be "prisoners of all categories" present at the event. "There
will, therefore, be minors, persons in alternative prisons and
detention centers, people in home detention and sentenced prisoners with
different convictions ... in short, a real presence that marks a real
commitment to providing a future and a hope beyond condemnation and the
length of the sentence ".
Msgr. Fisichella said that the collaboration with the Italian
Ministry of Justice has allowed six inmates to serve their service as
volunteers of the Jubilee. "An intense experience lived by all in a
spirit of genuine commitment and responsibility."
Regarding the program for the two days, it "will not deviate from the
spirit with which we wanted to live the Jubilee." "On Saturday,
participants will have the opportunity, in the Jubilee Churches, to
confess and to make the pilgrimage to the Holy Door of St. Peter’s
crossing the path of the Via della Conciliazione, to prepare for the
celebration of the following day. From 7.30 they will be allowed to
enter the Basilica, waiting for the Holy Eucharist which will be
celebrated by the Holy Father at 10.00 ".
"A very intense moment, starting from 9.00 am, will be their
testimonies. We will, in fact, as preparation for the Eucharistic
celebration present four witnesses who embrace the overarching reality
of the world of prisons. A an inmate who experienced a conversion in
prison, who will speak together with his victim with which he has
reconciled; the brother of a dead person who has become the instrument
of mercy, and forgiveness; a young minor who is serving his sentence and
a prison guard, who is in daily contact with inmates. We will also
listen to their life experience, and we will understand that the theme
of mercy is not a theoretical word, but a genuine daily action that
often represents a real existential challenge. The testimonies will be
interspersed with music and songs from the Papageno Choir, made up of
volunteers and inmates of the "Dozza" Prison in Bologna. Some special
features will also help to give greater significance to this day. First,
the liturgical service will be served by inmates. The hosts that will
be used for the Mass were produced by some inmates of the Milan prison,
as part of the 'The Meaning of Bread' project, conceived and organized
on the occasion of the Jubilee, and developed in collaboration with the
Onlus Fondazione Casa dello Spirito e delle Arti.
"What is happening on Sunday in Saint Peter's, it will be reflected in
many dioceses around the world who will join the Holy Father to
solemnly celebrate this day with the prisoners. In recent months, we
wrote to all the episcopal conferences worldwide, urging the bishops to
live this Sunday visiting prisons and celebrating the Jubilee with
inmates. There were many positive responses and we really think that the
celebration will be echoed worldwide".