ROME (Reuters) – Pope Benedict brought tears to the eyes of hardened criminals Sunday, telling them in a visit to one of Italy’s toughest prisons that overcrowding was a “double sentence” and whatever their offence, it could not erase their dignity.
His Christmas visit to Rebibbia prison on the outskirts of Rome took place two days after Italy’s new government announced extraordinary measures to improve prison conditions.
The 84-year-old pope appeared in good form, reading an address to inmates and delivering unscripted answers to their questions for about half an hour. He greeted a number of them personally in the prison’s church.
“I know that overcrowding and degradation in prison can make detention even more bitter,” he told representatives of several hundred inmates of the prison, which has 500 more inmates than the 1,240 it was built to hold.
“Prisoners are human beings who are worthy, despite their crime, of being treated with respect and dignity,” he said.
He said overcrowding and poor conditions were tantamount to serving “a double sentence” and that authorities should do everything possible to improve the situation.
New Justice Minister Paola Severino, who attended the meeting, announced on Friday a decree that would ease overcrowding by allowing many prisoners to serve
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