On April 22, about 20 people from my Michigan prison gathered in our makeshift chapel to mourn the death of Pope Francis.
Black plastic chairs on concrete floors served as pews. Exposed plumbing lined the walls of the multipurpose room. Images of Jesus and Mary — painted by Catholic prisoners here — rested on a faux-wood table that served as our altar. Our priest, an outside volunteer who goes by Father Carl, led the proceedings.
Catholic prisoners from all walks of life held a moment of silence and prayed for the soul of Pope Francis before we held Mass. The mood was somber but hopeful as attendees reminisced about the life of the pope.
Erik Sadowski, who’s nearing release after serving over a decade, told me that he thought Pope Francis was “a man of great compassion and personal warmth, eager to seek and save the lost, the poor, the downtrodden.”
From thousands of miles away, at Michigan’s Thumb Correctional Facility, I watched a CNN news dispatch of Pope Francis visiting a prison in Rome. During Easter Sunday, his busiest time of the year, and a day before he died, Pope Francis met individually with 70 incarcerated people.
“Every year l like to do what Jesus did on Holy Thursday, the washing of the feet, in a prison,” Pope Francis told people during the visit, according to a statement from the Vatican. “This year I cannot do it but I wanted to be close to you. I pray for you and all your families.”
After his death, the pope made one final gesture to the incarcerated by donating 200,000 euros, or close to $225,000, to be used for “the needs of the incarcerated,” according to National Catholic Reporter. For those following closely, these last acts of goodwill to people in prison were not new. During his tenure, Pope Francis had endorsed prison sentence reductions, more humane prison conditions, and, according to National Catholic Reporter, he had even said that short, one- to two-month reprieves from prison could help give people hope.
At my prison, the pope’s words and deeds have resonated tremendously. For Catholics in prison, Pope Francis represented Christ’s teachings on forgiveness, compassion and mercy to all.
Another Catholic man, Grant Glover, who has been incarcerated for close to 50 years, said that Pope Francis inspired him to “live with the love and compassion that he exhibited, the love and compassion of Jesus.”
Even non-Catholics within the prison expressed sorrow.
“This was a man who chose, like Christ, to eat with the publicans and sinners and minister to the poor, the abused and the criminals — the people who need him,” said JB Jones, an incarcerated leader in my prison’s Protestant services. “I wish there were a million more men like Pope Francis. He inspired me to do better.”
Men in the prison were in awe of, and thankful for, Pope Francis’ support of prison reform.
“He remembered us, and reminded people that no one is too far gone to be loved or forgiven,” said JT Teneyuque, a Catholic.
I loved Pope Francis myself, and was moved by his care for people who were suffering. Few leaders with comparable influence give any thought to the incarcerated. As a Christian, I believe he highlighted Jesus’ message of second chances and the ability of anyone to change through faith in God.
A couple weeks after we mourned Pope Francis’ death, a new pope was named. On May 8, Cardinal Robert Prevost was elected to lead the Catholic Church, and became Pope Leo XIV. The Catholics in my Michigan prison are excited not only for the first pope from the United States, but a pope from the Midwest.
“I am hopeful that Pope Leo XIV will focus on the Midwestern values that I believe align so perfectly with Christ’s teachings — community, lending a helping hand, family and forgiveness,” said David Wheetley, a Catholic. “The people Jesus came for are those who are suffering, and those who need healing and forgiveness.”
Rudy Llanes, a Catholic who has been in prison for nearly 40 years, added: “The sick need a physician, not the healthy. Pope Francis knew this and I have faith that Pope Leo XIV does too.”