In prison: the strength of forgiveness

The one thousand participants at the annual meeting of the adherents of the Focolari came from all over Italy, Slovenia, with representatives from Argentina, Germany, Holland, Portugal, and South Africa. They reflected and shared experiences on the Word of God,  the central theme that is being delved into this year.

Amongst the experiences there was also the experience of a group on evangelisation in Benin, the country that hosted the visit of Benedict XVI between the past 18th and 20th November. He was on his second apostolic visit to the continent, and he also delivered the post synodal exhortation on the church in Africa, at the service of reconciliation, justice and peace.

In Benin, for several years, a group of the Focolari organises meetings with inmates to bring to them the light of the word of God. Often the prisoners are rejected both by society and by their families. Reading the Word of God opens in persons unexpected gates, and gives rise to profound reports not only about faith but also about the experiences of suffering that the inmates rarely manage to relate, for example the reasons for their detention. This allows the volunteers to intervene for them before the Tribunal so that the cases of some of them are taken into consideration: in fact there are persons who have been in prison for ten, fifteen years without ever having been heard by a judge. Many cases have been solved, and the prisoners who were detained unjustly have been released.

Amongst the many stories, that of Paula stands out. She was detained unjustly in prison because of her husband without having any news of her children. Paula opens up in a profound relationship with one of the volunteers who go to see her in prison for the meetings of the word of life. Slowly she finds within herself the power of forgiveness and the tribunal eventually summons her to communicate her liberation. Paula however knows that she is returning home with her heart free of the weight of hatred and vengeance.

See Vatican News: Holy Father’s Visit to Benin