Pope Francis eats with Gay, Transgender and HIV/AIDS Prisoners

Humility is not in how many times you greet someone or help someone, but in your attitude towards people. Since Pope Francis became the pope 2 years ago, this Argentine pontiff has been doing outstanding things and making moves that amaze a lot of people.  He also has led a new and welcoming approach to gay and transgender people. When asked whether a gay man could be priest, he reportedly replied; ‘who am I to judge?’

 Today, Pope Francis had lunch with at least 10 gay, transgender and HIV-suffering inmates at a prison in Naples and guess what? The food was prepared by the prisoners themselves as instructed by the pope.

They were among 90 prisoners invited to dine with the pontiff on his day-long trip to southern-Italy.

The stop-off at the Giuseppe Salvia Detention Centre in Poggioreale was not originally on his schedule, according to Italian TV station TV 2000.

But the Pope reportedly insisted on the meal which was prepared by the prisoners themselves.

The inmates who dined with the pope were chosen by lottery from around 1,900, the Vatican Insider website has reported. 

And it was a very simple and 'frugal' because the Pope wants to take the time to get to know every prisoner personally, the head of a prison ministry told Vatican Radio.

The prison visit formed part of a very busy day for Pope Francis in the Italian city that lies 150 miles south of Rome.

Francis began praying at a sanctuary in Pompeii, before holding a string of events which include an outdoor mass and meetings with young people and the sick before heading back to the Vatican this evening.

 Before the lunch, Pope Francis called on members of organised crime to turn away from the violence to 'stop the tears of the mothers of Naples' in one of the city's most violent areas.

He was speaking in the shadow of a housing project known as Le Vele which is considered so dangerous that even the police are sometimes afraid to enter.

The blighted area has been a battleground for 'Camorra' clans fighting each other for control of drug trafficking and extortion rackets.

He urged the locals not to let criminals rob them of their hope and also said members of organised crime excommunicate themselves from the Church - but it would welcome them back if they repent.