On Thursday, April 11, 2019, at 2.30 pm, at the European University of Rome (via degli Aldobrandeschi 190), the University’s Office of Integral Education, in collaboration with the Society of St. Vincent de Paul (SSVP), organized a conference on the theme: “Prison and hope: a new life itinerary.”

After the greeting of Father Gonzalo Monzón, director of the Office of Integral Education of the European University of Rome (UER), Antonio Gianfico, national president of the SSVP, and Claudio Messina, national delegate for prisons of the SSVP made presentations. The witness talk of Roberto Giannoni was powerful … Roberto was imprisoned  even though he was innocent of the crime of which the was accused. Carlo Climati, director of the clinic “You are not an enemy!” and a member of the European University in Rome, presented the final conclusions.

Gianfico stated:  “Imprisonment is among one of the worst forms of poverty and prison ministry can be most difficult and demanding. The help that the volunteers offer is not limited to material support, but, above all, the members provide human concern, friendship, a willingness to listen in a non-judgmental manner and they engage in a process of accompaniment that will enable individuals to take up their rightful place in society upon their release from prison.”

The Society of Saint Vincent de Paul also provides assistance to the families of the inmates by offering workshops on various legal matters and accompanying them and their children with the hope of preventing their children from falling into the same mistakes as their parents.

The Carlo Castelli Prize for Solidarity was also presented on this occasion … this is a literary contest reserved for inmates imprisoned in the various houses of detention throughout Italy and is organized by the Society of St. Vincent de Paul in collaboration with the Ministry of Justice, and sponsored by the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate.