Oristano In Massama, the morning of Saturday 13 April 2024 saw a completely singular event take place within its walls: the baptism as a Jehovah’s Witness of Vincenzo Scivoli, a prisoner from the high security section, who was baptized in a swimming pool set up for the occasion in the theater of the penitentiary facility in the presence of about ten people, including Salvatore Flore, educator from the Massama prison. «Before making this choice Scivoli was always in a bad mood and angry at the whole world. Now he has improved his relationship with himself, he has understood the attitude of others towards him, he has changed as a person. Everyone respected his Bible study and we reported the changes he made to the Magistrate.”
Scivoli himself said he was satisfied with the path undertaken, not the first case of a prisoner under a special regime who approaches the world of religion in an all-encompassing way. «My joy is indescribable. I am so happy to have been baptized as one of Jehovah’s Witnesses. The in-depth study of biblical principles helped me change the way I think and act, so I was able to turn my life around. Jehovah’s Witnesses were the first non-Catholic religious organization to request and obtain permission to visit prisoners in prisons; thanks to law n. 354 of 1975, in Italy since 1976 the ministers of religion appointed by the State have provided their voluntary and free work of religious assistance. Today there are approximately 500 Jehovah’s Witness ministers bringing a message of hope to over 190 prison facilities.
Vincenzo Scivoli, originally from Caltanissetta, has suffered several convictions, which have become final, including for robbery and extortion aggravated by the mafia method.
Tags: Massama prison Oristano high security inmate baptized faith Jehovahs Witnesses Nuova Sardegna
