POPE FRANCIS TO LUNCH WITH GAY, TRANSGENDER INMATES IN NAPLES PRISON VISIT

Pope Francis to lunch with gay, transgender inmates in Naples prison visit

Posted on March 20, 2015 | By Joel Connelly

Pope Francis washed the feet of women prison inmates soon after his installation two years ago, and plans to eat a simple lunch Saturday with an inmate group likely to include gays, HIV-positive prisoners and the transgendered.

The 1,900 inmates are drawing lots on who gets to break bread with the holy father, who will greet each of the 100 or so inmates with whom he will dine.
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Pope Francis: He will be breaking bread with a prison population that includes gays, HIV-infected inmates and transgendered.

Pope Francis made a special request that the lunch be included on his schedule, according to a Religion News Service article.

While not changing its doctrine, the pope has appeared intent on heading a “church of the poor” and reaching out to the poor, refugees and victims of oppression and discrimination.

The first trip out of the Vatican of Francis’ pontificate was to an island in the Mediterranean, near where dozens of African refugees migrating by boat had recently drowned.

Francis has lately spoken up on the death penalty, saying it is “inadmissible, however serious the crime” and “does not bring justice to the victims but rather encourages revenge.”

He has even created a space off St. Peter’s Square in the Vatican for a shower and shave facility for the homeless.

The pope’s actions have created an optics problem for some church bishops who live in mansions, and particularly for the archdiocese of San Francisco.

As a “public safety measure,” the archdiocese installed watering devices to discourage homeless men and women from sleeping in covered doorways at St. Mary of the Assumption Cathedral.

It quickly removed the watering devices after a media firestorm, saying:  “We are sorry that our intentions have been misunderstood and recognize that the method was ill-conceived.”

In addition to optics problems, and violating San Francisco water-use laws, the archdiocese may have feared that the water devices might someday spray Pope Francis.

Categories: Catholic Church, death penalty, LGBT