Pope asks prisoners to ‘take a step each day’ with God’s help
July 07, 2014
Late in the afternoon of his daylong apostolic journey to Molise, Pope Francis was driven from Castelpetroso to Isernia, a town of 20,000, where he visited the local prison.
Emphasizing that all are sinners, Pope Francis told the prisoners that “what is important is not to stand still-- when water is still it becomes stagnant-- but walking, taking a step every day, with the help of the Lord. God is Father, he is mercy, he always loves us. If we seek him, he welcomes us and he forgives us.”
“He lifts us up and gives us back our dignity fully,” the Pope continued. “God does not forget us … With this confidence, we can walk, day by day. And with this faithful love which accompanies us, hope will not be dashed.”
Before praying a Hail Mary with the prisoners, the Pope said that when he meets a prisoner, he asks himself, “Why him and not me? … It is a mystery.”
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Further information:
- Pope urges inmates to ‘not stand still’ but to walk with God (Vatican Radio)
- Pastoral Visit of Pope Francis to Molise (Holy See)
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