Pope Leo XIV embraces incarcerated men during a visit to Devoto Prison in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on Nov. 11. (Foto: Instagram)
Pope Leo XIV visited Devoto Prison in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on Wednesday, Nov. 11, hearing accounts from incarcerated men and a former inmate about faith, recovery and the possibility of change. He also embraced the men who shared their experiences during the meeting, which included about 75 inmates.
The visit came as the 99-year-old prison prepares to close. About 1,500 people held there are being transferred to other prisons across the country. Leo spoke with the group about the possibility of starting over, saying that suffering, mistakes and painful experiences do not rule out a new direction in life.
The pope said the circumstances inmates face could become an opportunity to begin again. He urged them—and himself—to keep in their hearts the belief that a new life is possible, describing that belief as the hope people need. He also acknowledged the harm and pain people may have experienced or caused, while emphasizing the possibility of moving forward.
During the gathering, Leo thanked Cristian and Maximiliano, who are incarcerated, and Reinaldo, a former inmate, for sharing their stories. The three said faith had helped them find a path to change. They also described the prison chapel as a place where they no longer felt alone.
Cristian, 29, said a new life could be lived through Jesus. Maximiliano, 32 and a father, encouraged others to leave crime behind, saying that love alone could change the world and that God is love. Reinaldo echoed the message that a new life is possible.
The pope was welcomed by members of the prison community, including Buenos Aires Archbishop Jorge Ignacio García Cuerva, who also serves as the pope’s delegate for prison ministry; Federal Penitentiary Service Director Fernando Julián Martínez; and prison chaplain Father Matías De Martini. De Martini thanked Leo for coming and described the visit as an embrace that recognizes every person’s dignity rather than judging inmates by their past.
The prison visit was the first event on the final day of Leo’s Argentina trip and continued the Catholic Church’s tradition of attention to people deprived of their freedom. Leo arrived in Argentina on Sunday, Nov. 8, and was received by President Javier Milei. The two met privately at the Casa Rosada, the seat of Argentina’s government, before the pope attended a gathering with officials, civil society representatives and diplomats at Palacio Libertad. The Argentina stop was part of a 12-day apostolic journey through South America that began in Uruguay and was scheduled to conclude in Peru, where Leo lived for many years as a missionary and bishop. The trip took place less than a month after surgery on Oct. 13. Before the journey, the Vatican said his recovery was progressing well and there were no medical reasons he should not travel.
