Pope takes Holy Year and prayers for better future to Rome prison

Pope Francis leaves Rebibbia Prison (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)

Pope Francis has inaugurated his Holy Year at Rome’s main prison, taking a message of hope to inmates and involving them in the Catholic Church’s once every quarter-century celebration which is expected to bring about 32 million pilgrims to Rome.

Francis stood up from his wheelchair, knocked on the door to the chapel at Rebibbia prison and walked across the threshold, re-enacting the gesture he performed at the Holy Door of St Peter’s Basilica two nights earlier on Christmas Eve.