“Let us not dismiss dignity”: Pope Francis, 87, began his visit to Venice on Sunday in a women’s prison. This is the Argentine pontiff’s first trip outside Rome in seven months due to his state of health
Arriving by helicopter at 8:00 a.m. directly in the courtyard of the prison on the island of Giudecca, which houses the Holy See pavilion at the 60th Venice Biennale of Contemporary Art, Francis greeted at length one by one the approximately 80 inmates , administrative and prison staff and volunteers.
In this former convent welcoming women sentenced to long sentences, the Bishop of Rome, sensitive to the place of the marginalized and the prison world, called on the prison system to offer inmates “tools and spaces for human growth , spiritual, cultural and professional”.
“Courage, and forward! Don’t give up,” said the Pope After receiving a gift of products made by the inmates, several of whom appeared moved.
Away from the spotlight and the crowds, the Holy See pavilion is one of the most prominent of the prestigious art event and offers visitors an immersive and disconcerting experience, where the works rub shoulders with barbed wire.
Mass in St. Mark’s Square
The Pope will then speak to young people in front of the emblematic Basilica of Santa Maria della Salute, whose majestic dome dominates the southern entrance to the Grand Canal, a stone’s throw from St. Mark’s Square. After reaching the famous square via an ephemeral bridge, he will preside over a large mass at 11:00 a.m. in the presence of numerous political and religious leaders, before leaving Venice at the start of the afternoon.
The pope’s visit comes on the weekend of the introduction of a five-euro entry fee for day tourists: as a guest, he is exempt but non-resident pilgrims will be subject to it.
>> Reread: Venice imposes a five-euro entry ticket on certain days to combat overtourism
Other planned trips
After this trip, the Argentine Jesuit must make two other trips to Northern Italy, to Verona in May and to Trieste in July. A way of reassuring him about his ability to carry out his ministry, a few weeks after the concerns raised by his bout of fatigue during the Easter holidays.
Since his visit to Marseille in September 2023, Jorge Bergoglio has no longer traveled. Bronchitis forced him to cancel his trip to Dubai in December and his increasingly fragile general condition forced him to avoid traveling.
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