Exclusive: Women At Prison Anticipate Arrival Of Pope
By Pat Ciarrocchi
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- On Sunday morning Pope Francis will travel to what he calls the peripheries.
He'll meet men and women imprisoned at the Curran-Fromhold prison complex on State Road in Northeast Philadelphia.
In an Eyewitness News exclusive, CBS 3's Pat Ciarrocchi traveled to the women's prison where she met the women who will meet the pope.
"I actually did a countdown this morning. I was like, we have seven days."
Seven days until an encounter with Pope Francis.
"I've never met a religious person of such stature."
"One thing I would like to ask the Pope is why do they not get married?"
Amanda, Latifa, Ruth and Shynece will be among the 20 women and 80 men who will meet Pope Francis on Sunday morning at Curran-Fromhold.
"Not everyday in here we get people who come in here to actually give us encouragement or hope," said Shynece.
For Pope Francis hope is the point -- where barbed wire telegraphs the forced isolation.
Ciarrocchi found the women eager to learn more about Pope Francis.
They also were open in sharing their pain.
"Some lady screamed at me she was like I know you're a murderer. And I was just like, she might have been a little off. But it was embarrassing," said Amanda.
Amanda, who has been in prison five years is charged with murder. Her trial is tentatively set for October.
Ciarrocchi first met Amanda early this summer when the prison ministry troupe Shining Light came to perform at Riverside Correctional, drawing the women into a circle of hope.
"I've never met anyone who seems like they didn't have any kind of judgment in the back of their mind about us being here, so that's groundbreaking," said Latifa.
Ruth counts down too. She's been inside one year and 16 days. She had been drug addicted.
(Ciarrocchi:) "You're sober, clean?"
"Definitely. I love it," said Ruth.
"I'm going to ask him for his blessing. I don't have much to give him."
Except this humble offering.
"Take me to the King. I don't have much to bring. My heart is torn to pieces. It's my offering. Please take me to the King," she sang.