During his pastoral visit to Venice, Pope Francis highlighted themes of human dignity and spiritual rebirth, meeting the inmates of the women’s prison on the island of Giudecca and speaking to young people in St. Mark’s Square. The pontiff visited the Women’s Prison, which this year also hosts the Vatican pavilion for the 60th Art Biennial. Speaking to around 80 inmates, the Pope described prison as a place of great suffering due to problems such as overcrowding and violence, but also as a potential place of rebirth. “Prison can become a place where people’s dignity is promoted, not isolated,” Francis said, underlining the importance of mutual respect and care for individual abilities. Francis explored themes of forgiveness and healing, reminding the inmates that everyone makes mistakes and has wounds to heal, including himself.
“Today we will all leave this courtyard richer,” he said, pointing to the meeting as an opportunity for mutual growth and spiritual renewal. The Pope then visited the Vatican pavilion, set up inside the church of Santa Maria Maddalena delle Convertite, with the exhibition entitled “With my eyes”. Presented by José Tolentino de Mendonça, Prefect of the Dicastery for Culture and Education, the installation marked the first visit of a Pope to the Venice Biennale. Subsequently, Francis addressed an energetic message to young people in St. Mark’s Square, encouraging them to take control of their lives. “Don’t sit on the sofa, don’t isolate yourself. Go against the grain, meet people in person, not through cell phones,” urged the Pontiff. He has criticized the excessive use of social media and the dependence on digital technology, which he believes numbs the soul and diverts attention from the beauty of creation. This trip to Venice was marked by strong reminders of human dignity, social responsibility and the invitation to an active and engaged life, both spiritually and socially. Through his words and actions, Pope Francis continues to push for a more just and compassionate world, using every opportunity to speak of rebirth and hope.
In prison, the Pope also met Manuela Cacco, imprisoned for the Noventa crime.
The woman, convicted of complicity in the murder, gave Francis a skullcap made by the prisoners. The Pope immediately put it on
Zaia: “Welcome to Pope Francis”
In recent days, governor Luca Zaia had not hidden his emotion at the arrival of Pope Francis.
“This is a moment of great significance, not only for believers but for the entire community which recognizes the Pontiff as a leading figure for peace and intercultural dialogue. A Bridge between Culture and Spirituality The Pope’s visit must be considered in a perspective that goes beyond the strictly spiritual dimension: it is an opportunity to reflect on the historical and cultural value of Christianity, which has shaped the Venetian identity over the millennia, contributing to the sense of solidarity and community that still unites the region today”.
The Pope was welcomed not only with affection but also with the symbol of the Winged Lion, inherited from the evangelist Mark, which contains a message of peace very dear to both Venice and the Pope himself: “Pax Tibi”.
In a World Thirsting for Concord, Pope Francis is known for his relentless commitment to the defense of peace, a theme that resonates with urgency in an era marked by conflict and division. His visit represents a call to unity and reconciliation, always current and necessary themes. An Event to Rediscover Shared Values The papal visit is looming as an event with a profound social and spiritual impact, a moment to rediscover and celebrate the values of peace, unity and solidarity. Veneto is preparing to experience a day that will remain in the collective memory, as a bridge towards a future of dialogue and mutual understanding.
VR
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