ROME, Italy – During Pope Benedict’s visit to Rome’s Rebibbia prison, he gave a short speech to the inmates and afterwards responded to questions from six of the inmates who were gathered in the prison’s Church of Our Father.

Federico, who is an inmate from the prison infirmary, told the pope that people say “ferocious things” regarding the inmates.

“We have fallen and hurt people,” he told Pope Benedict. “We have lost our freedom, but we ask you to help ensure we don’t lose our dignity.”