Pastoral Penitenciaria holds 5th Camino de Santiago Penitenciario

Nearly 200 men and women from 23 Spanish prisons completed the fifth edition of the Penitentiary Way of St. James on Saturday, October 3. Organized by the Penitentiary Pastoral Department of the Spanish Episcopal Conference, the pilgrimage brought together 365 people, including 183 inmates, 73 prison officials, and 83 volunteers.

The participants traveled via the Sanabrés, Portuguese, Primitive, or French routes before meeting at the Monte del Gozo Auditorium. There, Bishop Florencio Roselló, who leads the Penitentiary Pastoral Department, and department director José María Carod welcomed the groups. During the gathering, inmates from Zuera, Málaga, and Gipuzkoa shared personal testimonies regarding their experiences on the pilgrimage.

After the welcome, the groups walked the final kilometers to the Obradoiro square to attend Mass at the Santiago de Compostela Cathedral. The liturgy was presided over by Bishop Roselló, joined by Archbishop Francisco José Prieto of Santiago and Bishop Fernando García Cadiñanos of Mondoñedo-Ferrol. During the service, two inmates presented offerings to the apostle, expressing a desire to rebuild their lives and work toward a more just and solidary society.