In a powerful gesture of pastoral care and solidarity, Pope Francis visited Rome’s historic Regina Coeli prison on Holy Thursday, continuing a cherished tradition of reaching out to those behind bars during Holy Week.
Although unable this year to celebrate the liturgy of the Lord’s Supper or perform the symbolic Washing of the Feet due to ongoing health concerns, the Holy Father spent about 30 minutes greeting inmates and staff, personally offering each detainee a Rosary and a pocket-sized Gospel.
“I have always liked coming to prison on Holy Thursday to do the washing of the feet like Jesus,” the Pope said to those gathered. “This year, I cannot do it, but I want to be close to you. I pray for you and your families.”
Approximately 70 detainees of various ages and nationalities welcomed the Pope with cheers, chants, and heartfelt pleas. Calls of “Freedom,” “Pray for us,” and “Pray for Palestine” rang out from windows above and from within the central rotunda. In return, Pope Francis smiled, raised his hand in blessing, and said, “Pray for me.”
The scene was deeply personal. Several inmates knelt or kissed the Pope’s hand. One young man named Matteo asked the Pope to sign his Gospel and shared his story of imprisonment following a misinterpreted act of defense. Another inmate, Ferdinando, handed the Holy Father a handwritten note: “May the light of the Lord illuminate my life and that of my family. Thank you, Pope, for your presence.”
Father Vittorio Trani, chaplain at Regina Coeli, said the visit brought deep meaning to both inmates and staff. “This gesture expresses care for a reality made up of people in difficulty,” he told Vatican Media. “The Pope did not want Easter to pass without a concrete expression of the concern he carries within.”
Pope Francis has made Holy Thursday prison visits a hallmark of his pontificate, a tradition he began while still Archbishop of Buenos Aires. This year’s visit, carried out despite recent health challenges, underscores his ongoing commitment to mercy and presence among the marginalized.
Outside the prison, Pope Francis briefly addressed journalists, reflecting on the experience with characteristic humility: “Every time I enter a place like this, I ask myself: why them and not me?”
As the Church marks the sacred days of the Triduum, the Pope’s visit stands as a living witness to the Gospel’s call to serve “the least of these” and reminds the faithful that no one is beyond the reach of God’s mercy.
