http://www.cnn.com/2016/03/03/us/pope-francis-mercy-letter-los-angeles-juvenile-inmate/index.html
"Dear Carlos," the Pope wrote, "May the peace of Jesus Christ be with you! I was pleased to receive your recent letter. ...".
"I couldn't believe it. I didn't think the Pope would write to someone who's behind bars," said Vazquez, now 18.The Pope's letter continued. Seeking forgivenessThe exchange of letters is the latest example of the Pope's new mission of mercy. Deeply touched by the Pope's January 21 letter, Vazquez no longer wants to end his life, he says. "It gave me a lot of hope knowing that there are people like the Pope who still have not given up on us. I know I've made mistakes and have hurt people, but what I learned in my two years and five months I've been imprisoned, I didn't know I was hurting people and that I was hurting myself, too," Vazquez said.
He started to read a lot of articles about the Pope, and he felt he was a person who had transformed his own self, and he knew that the Pope had a special place in his heart for the inmates, prisoners. "Dear Pope Francis, I have never been to Rome. I do not know if it is near Los Angeles because all my youth I have only known my neighborhood. I hope one day I will be given a second chance and receive a blessing from you and maybe even have my feet washed on Holy Thursday."
To me, this story is really touching. I think everyone deserves a second chance, no matter what their past is. It is satisfying to know that even the pope thinks that.
ReplyDeleteThat's so cute! Every time I hear a new story about the Pope, I like him even more.
ReplyDelete- Isabella Montague 5th period
This pope is the greatest honestly.
ReplyDeleteOh my gosh I love this! I'm really glad that we have a Pope like him.
ReplyDeleteTea Perez 1st period
I love how Pope Francis is taking a more active role outside the church than the previous popes. I really admire how he's trying to make a difference, not only in whole countries, but for individual people.
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