What will be the largest group of people Pope Francis will see when he visits the United States toward the end of September?  It could be in Philadelphia at Independence Mall or Washington DC at outside the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception or maybe NY at Madison Square Garden?  It might, in fact, take awhile to come up with the correct answer to that question.

What about the smallest group of people Pope Francis will see as part of his missionary journey to the US?  I believe I can answer that question quickly.  It will be around 100 inmates at a correctional facility in Philadelphia where he will sit on a chair that was made by some inmates at the Philadelphia Industrial Correction Center.

Of course if you keep up with news about the pope you know that  this isn't the first correctional facility the Pope has visited.  He recently did so in Bolivia and twice he has gone to prisons in Italy on Holy Thursday, and washed and kissed the feet of inmates during that ritual at the Holy Thursday Mass.  When visiting inmates in Bolivia, it was reported that the Pope told them he sees no difference between himself and them....they are all sinners.

Strong words and actions from our Pope.  Is he merely fulfilling Jesus call in Matthew 25 to visit those in prison?  I think the answer is yes and no.  Yes he is visiting those who have committed serious sin and are in prison for it.  And no, there is more to these visits than just a visit to those being incarcerated.  Pope Francis' visits to prisoners in prisons is also an ongoing cry from the Pope for prison reform in this country and throughout the world.  Pope Francis has, at various times, spoken out for an end to solitary confinement, an end to the death penalty as his predecessors, especially saint pope John Paull II, and an end to mandatory life imprisonment.

In today's responsorial psalm we all sang....he who does justice will live in the presence of the Lord.  The call for justice certainly means doing right by ALL of a country's citizens including those who are harmed in our society through crime, AND those being incarcerated because of the crimes they committed.  God's justice must be meted out to everyone.

One area that the Pope finds injustice that is potentially harmful to everyone in society, is how inmates are being treated and how our penal system while stressing punishment for crimes committed is seriously deficient when it comes to reforming prisoners so they can be productive when they return to society. 

Fact is.....what is happening in many prisons systems.......is such, that those who are released back into society are far more likely to recommit crimes than before they committed the crimes that initially landed them in prison.

I read the other day that according to the journal of the American Academy of Psychiatry, solitary confinement can cause an array of mental disorders, as well as provoke an already existing mental disorder in a prisoner causing more trauma and symptoms.

Did you hear or read recently that one of our Arkansas youth lock-up centers has reported an upswing of violent acts by those who are confined there. These are youngsters who potentially have many years of life ahead of them and what happens to them when they are incarcerated will make a huge difference to what they will be and what they will do when they come out of their state ordered confinement.

While there is reason for alarm about all this, especially in our country that has the largest level of incarceration in the world and where solitary confinement is a widespread practice..... and with it many negative results in prison and in society once prisoners are released..........we are called as Christians to be ambassadors of hope and speak out for practices that reflect the love and mercy of the Lord and follow through on his call to repentance and reform in our own individual lives and in the lives of others INCLUDING those in prison.

One sign of hope close to home was the recently concluded two day "Restore Hope Forum" called and presided over by Governor Hutchinson that gathered together clergyman from various denominations (including I hope Catholic clergymen) to talk and then to take action when it comes to our foster care system and to do more than we have been when it comes to preparing prisoners, especially youthful ones to re-enter society with abilities and motivation to be good and do good for themselves and others.  A pastor from the Second Baptist Church in Little Rock summed up his thoughts about acting on his faith in this way by stating that "It's the right thing to do , to help someone who has fallen."

Pope Francis would agree with such sentiments on this and other issues.  He will no doubt be inspired by the Holy Spirit to offer many challenges to our congress, president, the UN and the people of this country when he comes to the United States next month.  I'm confident that he is praying even now that his words will lead to actions that reflect the Love of Jesus, for unborn babies, for husbands, wives and families, and for others, including those who are in our prisons.

The inspired author of the Letter of James, whom we heard from today would certainly applaud a religion of worship and especially one of action that cares for this world and all of its inhabitants, especially those made in the image and likeness of God.

I don't believe there are any more powerful words that call us to action than those found in one of my favorite hymns, (and I bet it is or would be a favorite hymn of Pope Francis and the author of the letter of James). "We are called to act with justice. We are called to love tenderly. We are called to serve one another; to walk humbly with God."