Philly Inmates Work On A Gift For Pope Francis, Reports Say

Inmates at the local prison where Pope Francis will visit next month are working to create a special gift in time for his arrival, according to multiple reports.

They’re constructing an ornate high-backed chair, hand-carved and made from walnut, at the Curran Fromhold Correctional Facility in North Philadelphia, CBS News reports.

”At first I thought it was a little strange, honestly, like, why’s he coming to a prison?” Evan Davis, 26, of West Philadelphia, told Philly.com. “But then you realize, he’s coming to the prison basically to show people everybody in jail is not a criminal. And we need hope now just as much as anybody.”

A handful of inmates that demonstrated reliability and a strong work ethic were selected for the unique project, the reports state.

“It made me honored because I’m one of the ones that work hard, and they noticed,” Rameen Perrin, 21, told CBS.

Francis will visit Curran Fromhold on Sunday, September 27, to visit with about 100 inmates and their families.

Prison ministry has been an important part of Francis’ papal administration, as he has visited some of the world’s poorest and most notorious since taking the head post at the Vatican.