Pope Leo XIV began his second day in Catalonia this Wednesday with a visit to Brians 1 prison, in Sant Esteve Sesrovires (Barcelona), where he met with 80 inmates from various Catalan penitentiary centers before traveling to the Abbey of Montserrat.
Upon his arrival at the prison, the Pontiff was welcomed by the President of the Generalitat, Salvador Illa; the Minister of the Interior, Fernando Grande-Marlaska; and the Minister of Justice of the Generalitat, Ramon Espadaler. The inmates welcomed him by performing the song “Help Me to Walk.”
Meeting with inmates from several penitentiary centers
The meeting took place in the prison’s auditorium theater, the same space where Sunday Mass is usually celebrated. The gathering included 22 women from Brians 1 and Wad Ras, as well as 58 men from Brians 1 and Brians 2.
During the visit, several inmates shared their personal experiences with the Holy Father and presented him with gifts made in the prison workshops.
The event also featured the participation of Father Jesús Bel, a Mercedarian priest and coordinator of the Prison Pastoral Ministry of the Diocese of Sant Feliu de Llobregat, who has been carrying out his pastoral work at the center for several years.
Testimonies on the experience of faith in prison
Among those who spoke during the meeting were Montse and Josefina, two inmates who explained to the Pontiff the role that faith has played during their time in prison.
Montse shared that she came to know the religious life more deeply thanks to the support she received at the prison and noted that spiritual assistance was especially important to her after the death of one of her sons. Before the meeting, she also expressed her satisfaction at being able to take part in the papal visit.
For her part, Josefina told the Pope that the Christian faith is an important source of support in her daily life inside the prison.
The Pope’s message
After listening to the testimonies, Leo XIV addressed the inmates, focusing on the dignity of the person and the possibility of beginning a new chapter in life.
Below are the Pope’s words:
Dear brothers and sisters:
Gràcies a tots pel vostre acolliment tan ple de simpatia i cordialitat!
I am edified by the testimony that Montse and Josefina have shared with us. Thank you very much. I also appreciate the words of Father Jesús, which highlight the commitment of the chaplains and volunteers of the diocesan prison pastoral ministry of Sant Feliu de Llobregat.
Every human being is “worthy” simply by virtue of “having been desired, created, and loved by God” (cf. Magnifica humanitas, 52). Therefore, there is no situation that would cause the Lord to turn His gaze away from us. It is a consoling truth that accompanies us at all times and reminds us that His merciful love is always greater than whatever good or evil we may have done.
This is especially true for you, dear brothers and sisters, who bear the weight of being far from your loved ones and also suffer because of your current condition. When the temptation arises to feel lesser and to think that it is not worth continuing, “lift up your gaze” toward Him who, through the presence of so many people, never ceases to show you His love and closeness.
Although distress and sadness may mark some moments of your journey, remember that life’s mistakes do not determine a person’s identity. Saint Augustine, in his Confessions, shares his life’s journey and speaks to us of this; if we trust in divine grace and allow ourselves to be guided and transformed by it, we discover that in our lives the past does not condemn the future, but rather offers us the possibility of changing our decisions and choices.
Let us make room for the Lord in our hearts and seek His face. Let us allow ourselves to be accompanied by His love. Let us cling to Him, who continually invites us to hope and shows us a wonderful horizon that no physical barrier can prevent us from reaching. Today, He continues to speak to us in the depths of our consciences to help us discover that He dwells among us. He only waits for us to give Him a chance.
Dear friends, I invite you to continue dreaming God’s dream. To each one of you I say: God loves you as you are, but He dreams of you becoming better! The Lord allows us all to begin anew, for to be human and to be Christian does not consist in never making mistakes, but in growing in the capacity to convert, repent, make amends, and, above all, to be reconciled and to forgive.
I especially entrust you to the maternal intercession of Our Lady of Mercy, and with all affection I ask the Lord to bless you. Thank you very much.