Pope Francis regretted the confrontation carried out by women members of a criminal organization in a women’s prison in Honduras, where dozens of prisoners died on 20 June.
After the Angelus prayer on 25 June, Sunday, the Holy Father assured his prayers for the deceased women and their families and asked that “the Virgin of Suyapa help hearts open to reconciliation and fraternity, even within prisons”.
In addition, in a tweet published this Monday, he urged to stop “the horror of torture” and affirmed that it is essential that the international community “put the dignity of the person above all else and immediately commit to the abolition of torture.” and support for the victims.
On Tuesday, June 20, there was a confrontation between rival gangs from the Women’s Center for Social Readaptation (CEFAS) in Tamara, near the capital Tegucigalpa, where dozens of inmates lost their lives.
The massacre was perpetrated by women belonging to the so-called “Barrio 18” gang , who shot, attacked with a knife and set fire to the inmates of another criminal organization known as “Mara Salvatrucha”.
After what happened, the president of the country, Xiomara Castro, dismissed the security minister Ramón Sabillón and assured that “drastic measures” will be taken.
The Mara Salvatrucha and Barrio 18 are widespread criminal organizations mainly in countries such as Guatemala, Belize, El Salvador and Honduras.
Its members, often identified by full-body tattoos, carry out criminal activities such as rape, drug trafficking, kidnapping and murder.
The number of deceased women is involved in controversy. The Honduran Public Ministry counted 41 in a statement published on June 20 . According to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights in Honduras (OHCHR), there are 46 . For his part, Msgr. Ángel Garachana Pérez, Bishop Emeritus of San Pedro de Sula (Honduras), spoke of figures even higher than those confirmed by the official authorities.
The Penitentiary Ministry of the Archdiocese of Tegucigalpa demanded that the authorities clarify “this cruel event” and that “answers be provided for what happened.” In addition, he demanded that “security” in prisons be strengthened so that “it works effectively and in a timely manner.”