Yesterday from Brazil we received the dramatic news of the massacre that took place in the prison of Manaus, where an extremely violent clash between rival gangs caused dozens of deaths. I express my sorrow and concern over what happened. I invite prayer for the deceased, for their families, for all the detainees in the prison, and for those who work there. And I renew my appeal for penal institutions to be places of re-education and social reintegration, and for the conditions of life for inmates to be worthy of human persons.

I invite you to pray for these detainees, dead and alive, and also for all detainees in the world, that prisons may be for reintegration and are not overcrowded; may they be places of reintegration. Let us pray to Our Lady, Mother of prisoners: Hail Mary …