ROME (AP) — Pope Leo XIV criticized prison overcrowding and insufficient prisoner rehabilitation programs Sunday as he celebrated a special Mass for prisoners, guards and their families in the final event of the Vatican's 2025 Holy Year.
Some 6,000 people have signed up to take part in the weekend pilgrimage, including representatives from major detention centers in Italy, as well as prison volunteers, guards and prison chaplains from 90 countries, according to the Vatican.
According to the Association of Italian Penitentiary Chaplains, several groups of prisoners who received special permission to participate took part.
In his sermon, Leo acknowledged that prisoners often face poor conditions even in richer countries. He called for a sense of mercy and forgiveness to prevail among prisoners and those responsible for their protection.
“Here we can mention overcrowding, lack of commitment to providing sustainable educational programs for rehabilitation and employment opportunities,” he said, adding that patience and forgiveness are needed.
“On a more personal level, let us not forget the weight of the past, the wounds that need to be healed in the body and heart, the disappointments, the endless patience that is needed with oneself and others when embarking on the path of conversion, and the temptation to give up or not forgive again,” he said.
As the last major event of the 2025 Jubilee, the Mass in many ways concluded the Holy Year that Pope Francis opened on Christmas Eve 2024, the main purpose of which was to convey a message of hope, especially to those on the margins of society.
During his 12-year pontificate, Francis has prioritized serving prisoners to give them hope for a better future. On December 26 last year, Francis went to Rome's Rebibbia prison to open its Holy Door and invite prisoners to celebrate the anniversary.
Leo recalled that visit in Sunday's homily, as well as Francis' call for governments around the world to mark the Holy Year by offering prison amnesties and pardons, which are the basis of the Catholic Church's jubilee tradition.
In Italy, prison overcrowding is a long-standing problem condemned by the European Court of Human Rights and humanitarian organizations.
Antigone, an Italian prisoner advocacy group, said Italian prisons are now 135% overcrowded, with more than 63,000 people being held in facilities with fewer than 47,000 beds. Last year, Italian prison authorities received 5,837 complaints of inhuman or degrading treatment, up 23.4 percent from the previous year, Antigone said.
The Mass was the last major Saint Jubilee event of 2025, which Leo will officially close on January 6th when he closes the Holy Door of St. Peter's Basilica.
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