Around 1,000 detainees from 12 countries took part in the weekend celebrations, along with their families, prison chaplains and staff, and various associations.
The Jubilee for Prisoners marks one of the final major events of the Jubilee of Mercy, which will come to an end on November 20.
Pope Francis centred his homily for Mass for the Jubilee of Prisoners on the theme of hope as it appears in the day鱿鱼视频app Mass readings.
For instance, there are the seven brothers from the second book of Maccabees who speak about the hope of being raised again by God, and then Jesus鈥� response to the Sadducees, that God is not 鈥渢he God of the dead, but of the living.鈥�
鈥淗ope is a gift of God,鈥� and should be nourished, the Pope said.
鈥淲henever someone makes a mistake, the Father鱿鱼视频app mercy is all the more present, awakening repentance, forgiveness, reconciliation, and peace.鈥�
The Pope acknowledged that the loss of freedom experienced by detainees, is the worst part of serving time for one鱿鱼视频app crimes. However, he urged those in prison to maintain the 鈥渂reath鈥� of hope.
The Holy Father turned to day鱿鱼视频app reading from the letter to the Romans, in which 鈥淧aul almost seems to tell us that God too hopes鈥�.
鈥淗is mercy gives him no rest. He is like that Father in the parable, who keeps hoping for the return of his son who has fallen by the wayside鈥�.
鈥淚f God hopes, then no one should lose hope. For hope is the strength to keep moving forward. It is the power to press on towards the future and a changed life. It is the incentive to look to tomorrow, so that the love we have known, for all our failings, can show us a new path.鈥�
Pope Francis spoke of the 鈥渉ypocrisy鈥� of those who see prisoners only as 鈥渨rongdoers鈥�, and who disregard the possibility of rehabilitation.
Going off the cuff from his prepared homily, the Pope said how every time he enters a prison, he asks himself: 鈥溾�榃hy them and not I?鈥� All of us have the possibility of making mistakes.鈥�
The Holy Father reminded those in prison to not be held 鈥渃aptive鈥� by their past mistakes, and 鈥渘ever yield to the temptation of thinking that we cannot be forgiven.鈥�
Pope Francis turned his reflection to the importance of forgiveness among those who have experienced violence or abuse against themselves or their loved ones.
Acknowledging that there are some wounds that only God can heal, the Pope said that, nonetheless, 鈥渨hen violence is met with forgiveness, even the hearts of those who have done wrong can be conquered by the love that triumphs over every form of evil.鈥�
鈥淚n this way, among the victims and among those who wronged them, God raises up true witnesses and workers of mercy.鈥�
Pope Francis concluded his reflection by turning to the statue of Our Lady of Mercy, an image of Mary with the child Jesus, who is holding a set of chains.
鈥淢ay she intercede for you, so that your hearts can experience the power of hope for a new life, one worthy of being lived in complete freedom and in service to your neighbour.鈥�