THE POPE IS A MAN WHO NEEDS GOD’S MERCY. I SAID IT SINCERELY, INCLUDING IN FRONT OF THE DETAINEES IN PALMASOLA, BOLIVIA, IN FRONT OF THESE MEN AND WOMEN WHO WELCOMED ME WITH WARMTH. I REMINDED THEM THAT SAINT PETER AND SAINT PAUL HAD ALSO BEEN PRISONERS. I HAVE A SPECIAL RELATIONSHIP WITH THOSE WHO LIVE IN PRISON, DEPRIVED OF THEIR FREEDOM. I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN VERY ATTACHED TO THEM, PRECISELY BECAUSE OF MY AWARENESS OF BEING A SINNER. EVERY TIME I CROSS THE THRESHOLD OF A PRISON, FOR A CELEBRATION OR A VISIT, I ALWAYS WONDER: WHY THEM AND NOT ME? I SHOULD BE HERE, I DESERVE TO BE HERE. THEIR FALLS COULD HAVE BEEN MINE, I DON’T FEEL ANY BETTER THAN THOSE IN FRONT OF ME. AND SO I FIND MYSELF REHEARSING AND SHOUTING: WHY HIM AND NOT ME? THIS MAY SHOCK ME, BUT I CONSOLE MYSELF WITH PETER: HE HAD DENIED JESUS, AND HE WAS STILL CHOSEN. »