Seventy-eight inmates at Lima's Chorrillos Women's Prison are handcrafting velvet dolls and beaded jewelry bearing Pope Leo's likeness ahead of his Nov. 6–17 South America visit. The initiative, part of Peru's "Productive Prisons" program, aims to teach vocational skills and raise funds to support the women's reintegration and families. Inmates say the work provides a mental escape and many hope for a papal blessing during his tour.
Peru Inmates Sew 'Pope Leo' Dolls and Jewelry to Raise Funds Ahead of Papal Visit
FILE PHOTO: Pope Leo arrives for the weekly general audience in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, September 30, 2026. REUTERS/Yara Nardi/File Photo
Behind the steel bars of Lima's Chorrillos Women's Prison, the steady hum of sewing machines and the sharp snip of scissors mark a determined effort to meet a looming deadline. Seventy-eight inmates are hand-stitching velvet dolls and assembling beaded bracelets that bear the likeness of Pope Leo in anticipation of his November 6–17 South America visit.
Crafting For Reintegration
The project is part of Peru's "Productive Prisons" program, which aims to teach vocational skills and generate income to support the women's reintegration into society. Items produced range from $9 stuffed toys to intricate bracelets and are sold outside the facility to raise funds for families and post-release needs.
"Right now, we are in 'pope mode,'" said Nanny, an inmate who asked to remain anonymous as she carefully stuffed a doll. "We found out last year the pope held a Peruvian ID card, so we launched the idea of making a doll for everyone — children and adults alike."
For many participants, the workshop offers more than a paycheck. It provides a mental escape, practical skills and a way to support relatives on the outside. "We lose personal contact with our children, who suffer the most," Nanny added. "We may not be there in body, but we are there in soul and heart."
Prison warden Doris Nakandakari said the program provides vocational training, but many inmates also hope for a spiritual encounter. "Their greatest wish is for the pope to visit them ... to give them a blessing and the courage to keep moving forward," she said.
The pope, born in the United States as Robert Prevost and a naturalized Peruvian who served for decades as a missionary and bishop in the country, was brought to Rome by Pope Francis in 2023 and elected pope in May 2025. Peru is the final stop on his regional tour, which also includes Uruguay and Argentina.
(Reporting by Anthony Marina and Marco Aquino; Writing by Natalia Siniawski; Editing by Rod Nickel)
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