“May the light of the Lord Illuminate my life”: Prisoner’s note touches Pope Francis during Holy Thursday visit

“May the light of the Lord illuminate my life and that of my family. Thank you, Pope, for your presence.” 

These handwritten words from Ferdinando, an inmate at Rome’s Regina Coeli prison, captured the spirit of Pope Francis’s unexpected Holy Thursday visit to the historic penitentiary—a place he last visited in 2018 to celebrate the Lord’s Supper.

Although unable to preside over the liturgy and the traditional Washing of the Feet this year due to health limitations, Pope Francis continued his long-standing tradition of drawing near to those on society’s margins—especially those behind bars.

“I have always liked coming to prison on Holy Thursday to do the washing of the feet like Jesus,” the pope told the detainees. “This year, I cannot do it, but I want to be close to you. I pray for you and your families.”

The visit, brief yet heartfelt, saw the pope welcomed by around 70 inmates of various ages and nationalities. As he arrived in the prison courtyard, inmates greeted him with cheers, chants, and calls from the upper windows.

He heard cries of "Freedom." Pope Francis responded with a raised hand, a gentle smile, and a thumbs-up, quietly asking in return, “Pray for me.”

Inside the prison, he spent about 30 minutes personally greeting inmates and staff, offering each one a rosary and a pocket-sized Gospel. Several inmates wore the rosaries around their necks; others held the Gospels close. 

One young man requested an extra copy to give his sister upon release. Some knelt to kiss the pope’s hand, while others shared brief words, stories, or blessings.

It was Ferdinando’s simple note, however, that left a deep impression. Pope Francis paused with him, asked about his family, and assured him of his prayers—a moment of human connection that resonated beyond prison walls.

Another inmate, Matteo, aged 26, approached the pope for a signature on his Gospel. He revealed that an incident involving his partner's defense led to his imprisonment. He asserted that false testimony had distorted the truth. Pope Francis listened attentively, as he often does with the wounded stories of the incarcerated.

Many detainees expressed surprise and gratitude at the pope’s visit. Some had written to him after his visit to Rebibbia prison last December, hoping he might come to Regina Coeli as well. “We prayed, and he came,” one of them said with awe.

Outside the prison, the pope reflected briefly with journalists. “Every time I enter a place like this, I ask myself, why them and not me?” he said. When asked about his Easter plans, he humbly responded, “As I can.”

Regina Coeli’s chaplain, Father Vittorio Trani, called the visit a powerful gesture. “This expresses the Pope’s care for people in difficulty—not only the inmates but also the staff and administration. He did not want Easter to pass without a concrete sign of concern.”

Through a simple visit and a handwritten note, Holy Thursday once again became a day of grace, encounter, and hope—where the walls of confinement briefly gave way to the light of faith and fraternity. (Vatican News contributed to this article.)