The Pope to prisoners: “You have a special place in my heart”
“Prison is a harsh reality, and problems such as overcrowding, the lack of structures and resources, episodes of violence generate a lot of suffering there.” The Pope said this to the inmates of the Giudecca in Venice, inviting them “not to take away the dignity of anyone”. Prison «can also become a place of rebirth, moral and material, in which the dignity of women and men is not ‘put in isolation’, but promoted through mutual respect and care of talents and abilities». «I wanted to meet you at the beginning of my visit to Venice – continued the Pontiff – to tell you that you have a special place in my heart. I would therefore like us to experience this moment not so much as an ‘official visit’ of the Pope, but as a meeting in which, by the grace of God, we give each other time, prayer, closeness and fraternal affection. Today we will all leave this courtyard richer, perhaps the one who will emerge richer will be me, and the good we will exchange will be precious”, said Pope Francis.
«It is the Lord who wants us together in this moment, arrived through different paths, some very painful, also due to errors from which, in various ways, each person bears wounds and scars. And God wants us together because he knows that each of us, here, today, has something unique to give and receive, and that we all need it”, “each of us has our own singularity, a gift to offer and share” , said the Pope in his first speech in Venice.
Faithful queued from 7am to enter Piazza San Marco
Operations for the influx of faithful to Piazza San Marco in Venice began around 7 am, where Pope Francis will celebrate mass at 11 am, at the end of his visit to the lagoon city. The entrance to the gates around the March area is in an orderly manner, and on the large stage where the altar for the celebration has been set up, the members of the orchestra that will accompany the songs have arranged themselves. The faithful have the opportunity to see the stages of the papal visit from some big screens. The first applause already rose from the square when Pope Francis was seen arriving at the Giudecca women’s prison.
Arrived at Giudecca
Pope Francis has arrived in Venice. The helicopter that left the Vatican landed a short while ago in courtyard of the Giudecca women’s prison, first stage of his visit to the lagoon city, which after a meeting with young people, in front of the Basilica della Salute, will end with Mass at San Marco. In the prison the Holy Father will meet the inmates of the penitentiary institute, and will visit the pavilion of the Holy See at the Venice Biennale, entitled “with my eyes”.
Took off at 6.32am from Rome
Pope Francis left the Vatican heliport at 6.32 am towards Venice where he will visit the Biennale, meet young people, and celebrate mass in Piazza San Marco.
It is a historic day for Venice with the highly anticipated visit of Pope Francis.
The pontiff begins it from Giudecca, in the women’s prison, where he meets the inmates and visits the pavilion of the Biennial of the Vatican Dicastery for culture and education. Then she moves to Salute, to dialogue with 1,500 young people from all parts of the Patriarchate and from the other 15 dioceses of the Northeast. Finally she arrives in Piazza San Marco, for the solemn mass, followed by the homage to the remains of the evangelist who was a close collaborator of Peter, in a reserved manner inside the cathedral basilica.
THE PILGRIMAGE
10 thousand people are booked for the mass and enter the city very early in the morning. The parishes are mobilized to leave as early as dawn, those from the most distant areas of the Patriarchate even earlier. The groups set off very early because access to the various gates in the square is allowed from 7 to 9, two hours before the start of the celebration. One of the most delicate moments of this Sunday will be the outflow after mass. «The exit will take place only after the Holy Father has taken his way back, explain the Patriarchate and the Municipality. The faithful are advised to wait in order in the square until the green light for the outflow is given via loudspeakers and volunteers present. You exit through the same gate you entered through. The invitation is to do it calmly, trying to avoid gatherings.” Ten thousand people leaving the square at the same time is a good number to manage. The areas that could be most under pressure are the Mercerie and the streets towards Rialto; Calle Larga XXII Marzo and Orseolo Basin; the entire Piazzetta pier, both towards Giardinetti and towards Riva degli Schiavoni. In recent weeks, numerous meetings of the Committee for Security and Public Order have taken place where the details of the logistical part have been refined.
THE OUTFLOW
Most of the faithful will head towards Piazzale Roma to return to Mestre and the mainland. It is foreseeable that in the early hours of the afternoon the attendance will spread over a greater radius, gradually causing the public to flow away. Many will travel on foot. Many will be waiting for public transport which will resume regular operation from mid-afternoon. In the instructions given to each participant in the mass, the Patriarchate and the Municipality remind them to bring a snack with them because there will be no possibility of moving at least before 1.30 pm. Water will be distributed at will by volunteers present in each of the 13 sectors, divided in turn into 75 “mini zones” in which communion will also be distributed. Another important recommendation: you cannot bring umbrellas with you. Therefore, to protect yourself from the sun you need hats or headgear; if it rains k-ways and capes. If necessary, you can contact the order service staff. Toilets are available in the Giardinetti and behind the Correr museum. The first aid point at the new Procuratie.
