BY Martin Dunlop | October 23 | 
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The Lord is with prisoners, Pope says
Prisoners should be told that the Lord is with them in their prisons and their cells, Pope Francis today informed a group of 200 Italian prison chaplains
This morning, prior to his General Audience, Pope Francis spoke to the prison chaplains, who came from across Italy for their annual national convention.
Speaking off the cuff, the Holy Father lamented the injustices of today’s judicial system, highlighting that ‘it is easier to punish the small fry, but let the big fish swim free in the water.’
The Pope described the chaplains’ ministry as ‘very challenging and very important’ and asked them to bring his greetings to the prisoners whom they serve.
“Please say that I pray for them,” the Holy Father said. “I pray to the Lord and Our Lady that they can successfully overcome this difficult period of their lives. That they not be discouraged, that they do not quit.”
The Pope added that the chaplains are ‘a sign of Christ’s nearness to these brothers who are in need of hope.’
“Recently you talked about a ‘justice of reconciliation’ [at their conference], but also a justice of hope, of open doors, of horizons,” he said. “This is not a utopia: It can be done.
“It is not easy, because of our weaknesses which are everywhere, also the devil is everywhere, temptations are everywhere,” the Pope added. “But you must always try.”
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