Pope Leo XIV visited one of Spain’s largest prisons on Thursday, urging inmates to seek reconciliation for their past actions and commit themselves to building a better future.
Speaking to prisoners at the Brians 1 correctional facility, located about 40 kilometers outside Barcelona, the Pope emphasized the possibility of personal transformation. The visit marked the first time a pope has visited a prison in Spain.
“Someone’s past does not condemn their future,” Pope Leo XIV told the inmates. “Rather, it offers the opportunity to change our decisions and choices.”
The Pope, who has consistently advocated for the rights and dignity of prisoners, met with inmates at the mixed-gender facility, which currently houses around 1,000 prisoners. His visit formed part of a wider pastoral trip to Spain, with Barcelona serving as the second stop on his itinerary.
Among those who met the Pontiff was inmate Montse Benavente, who described the encounter as a life-changing moment. “It is an opportunity of a lifetime. I haven’t been able to sleep,” she said, reflecting on her struggles with faith and the harm her actions had caused her family.
Later in the day, Pope Leo XIV was expected to inaugurate the Tower of Jesus Christ at the iconic Sagrada Família Basilica, the most significant recent addition to Antoni Gaudí’s renowned masterpiece and the tallest church in the world.
The Pope’s prison ministry has been a recurring feature of his pontificate. Earlier this year, during a visit to Equatorial Guinea, he met prisoners who appealed for freedom amid heavy rains. His concern for inmates continues the legacy of his predecessor, Pope Francis, who was also known for his outreach to prisoners and visited a prison in Rome just days before his death.
One inmate at Brians 1, identified by the Spanish newspaper El Mundo as Maite, expressed gratitude for the papal visit. “Nobody remembers us. It is very easy to forget someone who is in prison,” the inmate said.
Source: ANA-MPA
