At his June 4 general audience, Pope Leo XIV received two inmates from Rebibbia prison, the site of one of the five holy doors for the 2025 jubilee year.
Newsroom (05/06/2025 10:50 , Gaudium Press) “Even in the dark moments of life… we ask the Lord to join us where we are waiting for him.” These words from Pope Leo XIV resonated deeply with Gennaro and Paolo, two inmates from Rome’s Rebibbia prison, who attended the general audience in St. Peter’s Square this morning. Accompanied by prison chaplain Don Marco Fibbi and director Teresa Mascolo, the men were granted day leave for a profoundly spiritual encounter with the Pope.
For Gennaro, who currently benefits from an external work program at the Istituto Superiore di Sanità, the meeting was more than personal—it was a representation of the entire penitentiary community. “We are here not for ourselves, but for all those in prison,” he told Vatican media. Alongside Paolo, he presented the Pope with a silver artifact depicting the “Cross of Hope”—a symbol of faith and redemption crafted by inmates.
Yet, as Paolo reflected, the real gift was the Pope’s presence itself. “He showed the same closeness to prisoners as Pope Francis did,” he said, referencing Francis’ historic visit to Rebibbia, where he opened the Holy Door in a groundbreaking Jubilee moment. Don Fibbi, still moved by that memory, recalled presenting Francis with a miniature Holy Door carved from wood salvaged from migrant boats seized in Lampedusa—a poignant symbol of hope and renewal.
Now, the chaplain holds another hope: that Pope Leo XIV will visit Rebibbia, ensuring that the Door of Mercy remains open—not just symbolically, but as a call to society’s conscience.
Pilgrims and Religious Orders Celebrate Faith and Unity
Meanwhile, thousands of pilgrims filled the Square, including a vibrant delegation from the Diocese of Nocera Inferiore-Sarno, led by Bishop Giuseppe Giudice. Their Jubilee theme, “Peter Is Here,” embodied their journey—both physical and spiritual. Don Alessandro Cirillo, a parish priest from San Valentino Torio, emphasized the trip as a reaffirmation of faith and an embrace of Church unity under Leo XIV’s leadership.
Among the joyful crowds were 38 Daughters of Mary Help of Christians, a global Salesian congregation. Sister Jeanette Palasofa, coordinator of the “Mornese” project, shared their elation: “The election of Pope Leo XIV has brought us immense joy, easing the sorrow of Pope Francis’ passing.” Their pilgrimage, she noted, was a chance to rekindle their vocation’s roots in the spirit of Don Bosco and St. Maria Mazzarello.
Gifts and Music: A Tapestry of Devotion
The audience also featured unique offerings to the Pope:
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A bell brought by entrepreneur Luciano Manna, destined for the Church of Santa Maria del Buon Consiglio in Striano, awaited the Pontiff’s blessing.
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Sculptor Leonardo Pace continued his tradition of presenting papal coat of arms reliefs, a gesture begun under Benedict XVI and sustained through Francis’ papacy.
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The Arturo Toscanini Band of Ispica and Mexico’s “Ballad Folklorico del Bachillerato” ensemble filled the Square with music, blending Sicilian and Mexican cultural devotion.
As the sun warmed St. Peter’s, the day stood as a testament to faith’s unifying power—from prisoners seeking redemption to pilgrims renewing their spiritual journey, all under the gaze of a Pope who, like his predecessor, extends a hand of mercy and hope.
- Raju Hasmukh with files from L’Osservatore Romano (Italian)
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