Vatican to host 1,000 prisoners from 12 countries at special eventNovember 4, 2016 - 11:10 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - One thousand prisoners -- including some lifers -- will take part in a special event at the Vatican this weekend, along with 3,000 family members, prison staff and volunteers, AFP reports. The prisoners from 12 countries will have the opportunity on Saturday, November 5 to confess and walk through the "Holy Door" at Saint Peter's Basilica, a Jubilee tradition by which Catholics can ask forgiveness for their sins. On Sunday, they will attend a mass lead by Pope Francis. The Argentine pontiff regularly meets prisoners -- both in Italy and on his trips abroad -- but this is the first time so many inmates will be received at the Vatican. The convicts are expected to come from Britain, Italy, Latvia, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mexico, the Netherlands, Spain, the U.S., South Africa, Sweden and Portugal. While some are on probation, others are currently under house arrest or are serving life sentences and will be escorted by security details, the Vatican said. At the mass, they will hear the stories of four people -- including one inmate who converted and will speak alongside their victim, the brother of someone who was murdered and had to learn forgiveness, and a prison guard, AFP says. The service will be accompanied by the dulcet tones of a choir of prisoners from Bologna, while the communion wafers will be special ones made by detainees in a lockup in Milan. Next weekend the pope will hold a similar event for the "socially marginalised" and homeless. It will be the last before the Jubilee winds up. "Holy Doors" around the world close on November 13 and the pontiff will officially declare the year over on November 20. Related links: Top stories Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev arrived in Moscow on April 22 to hold talks with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". Partner news | Get Started: An educational platform for young startuppers The Get Started program which operates in two phases is an important platform for young startuppers. Byblos Bank Armenia celebrates Students' Day with scholarship recipients YSU students who received scholarships from Byblos Bank Armenia gathered in a casual setting to meet with the Bank's CEO, Hayk Stepanyan. Azerbaijan extends Rune Vardanyan’s arrest by 5 months A court in Azerbaijan has extended the arrest of former Nagorno-Karabakh leader Ruben Vardanyan by five months. Armenia border residents dissatisfied with delimitation Residents Kirants are dissatisfied with the results of the delimitation of the border between Armenia and Azerbaijan. |