In almost all of his trips, Pope Francis makes sure to visit a prison.
In Naples and Milan, he had lunch with groups of incarcerated people.
He has even gone to a prison to wash their feet on Holy Thursday.
Visiting prisons is also a regular practice of Cardinal Carlos Osoro from Madrid, who says he has learned valuable life lessons by spending time with inmates.
CARD. CARLOS OSORO
Archbishop of Madrid (Spain)
'...They led extraordinary lives, they have stories worth telling.... One might say: if I had gone through certain things, I possibly would have done these other things, or worse.'
Cardinal Carlos Osoro brings together his experiences in prisons and the lessons he learned there in this book, 'My teacher, the prisoner.'
It showcases the intensely human exchanges between the Archbishop and prisoners from a Madrid jail.
CARD. CARLOS OSORO
Archbishop of Madrid (Spain)
'I don't give them any advice, I just answer the questions that I am asked. The prisoners are the ones who are advising me, who are giving me the answers and above all teaching me how to live in this life.”
The prisoners share with the Cardinal how they miss their grandchildren, and tell him of their wounded hearts that long for forgiveness. They say they dream of being seen as equals before God.
CARD. CARLOS OSORO
Archbishop of Madrid (Spain)
“For me it is a very beautiful experience when they come to see me. And maybe if I am going to their city I can have dinner with them one day, and when they go home I will be able to chat with them. But there's a human relationship that they never forget, it's not because of any kind of special interest. It's because you love them, just like that. That's it.”
Cardinal Osoro says a more focus should be placed on values in education to prevent people from ending up in prisons. He says we must be close to prisoners and their families during their sentencing, and in helping them to return to normal life after they have paid their debt to society.
JMB
