Andy Keen-Downs, the chief executive of Pact, met Pope Francis in Rome last week and received his blessing for an image on behalf of prisoners in England and Wales.
Mr Keen-Downs was in Rome for a conference marking the thirtieth anniversary of the Fondazione Centesimus Annus Pro Pontifice, which promotes the study of Catholic Social Teaching.
Pope Francis spoke to delegates about the importance of community where we are “imagining and working for a future where each person can find his or her place and have room in the world”.
Mr Keen-Downs said: “When it was my turn, in terrible Italian, I asked Pope Francis to bless a beautiful silver image of Mary, Untier of Knots, on behalf of those in prison in England & Wales.
“Pope Francis, who of course washes the feet of prisoners on Maundy Thursday, smiled when he understood what I was saying and raised his hand to touch and bless the picture.
“I asked him to pray for all of us who work with people in prison too. He indicated that he would do so.”
Bishop Richard Moth of Arundel and Brighton had suggested that the image of Mary untying “knots”, a devotion which originated in seventeenth-century Germany, may be especially appropriate for those affected by the criminal justice system and for those striving to make a difference.
Bishop Moth is the prisons liaison for the bishops’ conference.
Mr Keen-Downs reflected that it was “hard to put into words what this symbolic and spiritual support from Pope Francis for Pact’s work means for me personally”.
“I still feel a little overwhelmed. His concern for people in prison is well known, and to bring back a physical symbol of that care to prisoners in England and Wales, of all faiths and none, is humbling.”
Pact’s Faith in Action team will bring the image and Pope Francis’ blessing to men and women prisons as well as to the charity’s supporters and friends.
The organisation hopes the image will enable those in the criminal justice system “to feel greater closeness to the whole Church and through the blessing of Pope Francis, to Jesus himself”.
Pact, the Prison Advice and Care Trust, is the Catholic national charity for prisoners, people with convictions, and their children and families.