Argentine Prisoners Send Letters to Leo XIV: What Do They Say and Why?

(ZENIT News / Buenos Aires, 09.24.2026).- Inmates at Penitentiary Unit No. 17 in Urdampilleta, Buenos Aires, have sent letters to Pope Leo XIV sharing their experiences and expressing their hope that he will visit the prison during his upcoming trip to the country, scheduled for November.

The initiative arose spontaneously among the prisoners and garnered 480 signatures. The letters were delivered to the Apostolic Nunciature, which confirmed receipt and requested information regarding the pastoral activities taking place within the prison.

Pope Francis had a connection with the inmates of that facility for a decade, dating back to the construction of a chapel he had promoted; he even sent a video message to the prisoners for its inauguration. They exchanged letters with the Pontiff, and in one instance, Pope Francis wrote to them stating that the walls should not be a limit to their hope.

Inmates built a chapel using donated materials, with the support of catechist Celia «Tata» Moncany. Although architectural plans were initially missing, the unit’s Director, Eugenia Marisabel Barrionuevo, together with chaplain Fr. Mauricio Scoltore, spearheaded the project’s completion.

Religious activities at the prison follow a weekly schedule. Catechism classes are held on Mondays. Tuesdays feature periods of Eucharistic Adoration and religious instruction. Wednesdays include the «Prisoners’ Rosary,» an initiative that connects various prisons across the country via video call. On Fridays, liturgical support is provided to the unit’s rugby team. Eucharistic celebrations in the cellblocks, healing workshops, and meetings with young missionaries round out the prison ministry, which maintains a constant focus on the inmates’ personal journeys.

An ex-convict named Guillermo shared his story during a spiritual retreat, which was  released as a podcast. Raised in Vicente López by his maternal grandparents after his father was imprisoned and his mother started a new family, Guillermo suffered the loss of his grandfather, who was murdered, during his childhood. He subsequently spent years living on the streets, struggling with drug abuse and committing crimes that led to a 15-year prison sentence when he was twenty.

The loss of his father — with whom he had shared a cellblock in the same prison and whom he was unable to bid farewell –, prompted a change amidst his grief, leading him to embark on a new path with the support of the Vincular Foundation. Guillermo described the pivotal moment of living alongside the son of the man who had killed his grandfather; he chose not to harm him, instead supporting him until he regained his freedom.

He was able to leave prison before completing his full sentence. He married Flavia, and they had two children. He works and is involved in his parish, where he leads workshops. His journey inspires other inmates to engage with prison pastoral programs, offering hope for a second chance through faith and human values.

Pope Leo XIV is scheduled to visit Devoto prison during his pastoral trip to Argentina. Will he also visit Urdampilleta?