Women at the Chorrillos penitentiary in Lima, Peru, are making small dolls depicting Pope Leo XIV, rosaries and other handmade items ahead of his expected visit to the country in November. Their work is part of a wider effort to support training and social reintegration.
Work, dignity and family ties
Vatican News reported on 29 October that 78 incarcerated women are involved in craft activities linked to Peru’s Productive Prisons programme, which aims to improve training and work opportunities in detention.
Silvia Alayo, executive secretary of the Peruvian Bishops’ Conference Commission for Social Action, explained that prison ministry also seeks to support personal dignity and keep incarcerated people connected with their families.
A symbolic welcome for the Pope
The handmade items are to be sold outside the prison as Pope Leo XIV prepares for an apostolic journey scheduled for 6–17 November, including Peru. The women see the project as one way of participating in the papal visit despite being unable to attend public gatherings.
Alayo also highlighted serious overcrowding in Peru’s prisons and the importance of meaningful pathways to reintegration. Alongside spiritual accompaniment, Catholic communities have supported training workshops and opportunities for productive work.
Source
Vatican News — Sewing threads of hope in a Peruvian prison (29 October 2026).
