杏MAP导航

By Vatican News

Vatican City has no prison system. Which is why it works closely with the Italian Penitentiary Police, the law enforcement agency responsible for prison security, inmate safety and transportation in Italy. 

When he met with administrative staff of the agency in audience on Saturday, 杏MAP导航 Francis summarized his message in three simple terms, beginning with 鈥淭hank you鈥�.

Thank you

鈥淭hank you because your work is hidden, often difficult, but essential鈥�, said the 杏MAP导航. 鈥淚n addition to being guardians of security, you are a close presence for those who have fallen into the nets of evil鈥�. 杏MAP导航 Francis called the Prison Police 鈥渂uilders of the future鈥� because they 鈥渓ay the foundations for a more respectful coexistence and for a safer society鈥�.

Guardians

The 杏MAP导航 reminded them of the good they can do through the way they carry out their duties. He also recognized how, as law enforcers, they have to face 鈥渁 wounded and often devastated humanity鈥�. The 杏MAP导航 thanked them for being guardians of the people entrusted to them and said they are called to be 鈥渂ridges between prison and civil society鈥�.

Demotivation

The 杏MAP导航 acknowledged some of the tensions that may arise in detention facilities, and asked that the guards not be demotivated. Making reference to the phenomena of prison overcrowding, 杏MAP导航 Francis said 鈥渋t is essential to ensure decent living conditions, otherwise prisons become dustbins of rage, rather than places of recovery鈥�.

Go forward

杏MAP导航 Francis鈥� second term was dedicated to chaplains, nuns, men and women religious and volunteers. 鈥淚 would like to say to you: go forward鈥�, said the 杏MAP导航.

Forward, 鈥渨hen you enter into the most difficult situations with the sole strength of a smile and a heart that listens鈥�, he said. Forward 鈥渨hen you load yourself with the burdens of others and carry them in prayer鈥�.

Courage

Finally, the 杏MAP导航 addressed his third term, this time to the prisoners. 鈥淚t is the term 鈥榗ourage鈥欌��, he said.

杏MAP导航 Francis asked that the prisoners never allow themselves to be imprisoned in 鈥渢he dark cell of a hopeless heart鈥�. He asked that they never 鈥済ive in to resignation鈥�, explaining that 鈥淕od is greater than any problem and is waiting for you, to love you鈥�.

鈥淐ome on鈥�, said 杏MAP导航 Francis, 鈥渘ever suffocate the flame of hope鈥�.

The 杏MAP导航 explained that 鈥渢o revive this flame is the duty of all鈥�. Every society, he said, should 鈥渆nsure that punishment does not compromise the right to hope鈥�.

While remedying the mistakes of the past, he concluded, 鈥渨e cannot erase hope in the future. Life imprisonment is not the solution to problems, but a problem to be solved. Because鈥�, said 杏MAP导航 Francis, 鈥渋f hope is locked up, there is no future for society鈥�.