Video Pope Francis, unexpected visit to a prison in Rome, before Easter. How the detainees greeted him

Pope Francis made a surprise visit to Regina Coeli prison on Thursday, one of the most overcrowded in Italy, to send inmates good thoughts before Easter, reports Reuters. The 88 -year -old Pontiff is still convalescence after double pneumonia and gradually begins to reappear in public, after the worst health problem of the 12 years of pontifying.

The visit took place shortly after 3:00 pm (13:00 GMT), when the Pope was brought into a rolling chair inside the penitentiary, being greeted with applause of guards and employees. As with the last two public appearances, Francis breathed without the help of oxygen tubes.

The Pope stayed in prison for about 30 minutes. According to the Vatican, he met a group of about 70 detainees. “I wanted to be close to you,” he said, according to the quoted source. “I pray for you and your families.”

Pope Francis, Still Recovering from Pneumonia, Visited Rome's Regina Coeli Prison on Holy Thursday, Meeting with About 70 Inmates. After a moment of Prayer and Personal Greetings, He Led the Our Father and Gave His Blessing. pic.twitter.com/tkacfrdkup

– Ewtn News in Depth (@ewtnnewsindepth) April 17, 2025

“I like to do every year who Jesus did on Holy Thursday: The Washing of the Feet, in Prison,” He Said. And he added: “This year i can't do it, but i can and want to be close to you. I Pray for you and for your families.” -Pope Francis pic.twitter.com/a5ru3ammk2

– Rome Reports (@romereports) April 17, 2025

The Catholic Church marks today, April 17, the Great Thursday, the Day of the Last Supper, the first of the four holidays that precede Easter, the most important Christian holiday, celebrated on Sunday.

Pope Francis has visited prisons in Joia Mare along his pontificate, started in 2013. Regina Coeli, a former seventeenth-century monastery located in the Trastvere neighborhood, is currently a men's prison. According to the Italian Ministry of Justice, there are about 1,100 detainees in the penitentiary, almost double compared to the official capacity of 628 seats. Francis also visited this place in 2018.

The pope was close to death during the five weeks in which he suffered from double pneumonia. Doctors recommended two months of rest after discharge from the hospital for his body to recover completely. After returning to the Vatican, on March 23, Francis was initially outside public attention, but in the meantime he had several short appearances.

For now, it is not clear to what extent the events of the official Vatican dedicated to Easter will participate.