Overview

• Pope Francis visited Regina Coeli prison in Rome on April 17, 2025, to commemorate Holy Thursday with about 70 inmates.
• This visit continues his tradition, started in 2013, of spending Holy Thursday with prisoners or vulnerable groups, paused only during the pandemic years of 2020 and 2021.
• The Vatican did not confirm the visit in advance, as it depended on the Pope's ongoing recovery from bilateral pneumonia, which required a 38-day hospitalization ending March 23, 2025.
• Francis delegated several Holy Week ceremonies, including the Via Crucis, to cardinals due to health constraints, though he remains involved in preparing homilies and reflections.
• The Pope’s return to his Maundy Thursday practice underscores his commitment to pastoral outreach despite health challenges.