President of the Lazio Region, Francesco Rocca, and the Secretary of the CEI, Monsignor Giuseppe Baturi, inaugurated an artisan workshop located within the Casal del Marmo juvenile prison complex. The factory will be able to produce 220kg of pasta an hour, which will be sold in some supermarket chains.
The workshop is located with the juvenile prison but has an independent entrance. The concept originated after Pope Francis’s initial visit to the detention facility in 2013, during which he chose to wash the feet of minor prisoners on Holy Thursday, accompanied by the powerful message: “Don’t let your hope be stolen.”
These impactful words led to the establishment of the pasta factory within the premises of a building that had long been disused. The project was brought to fruition by the Gustolibero Società Cooperativa Sociale Onlus, with support from the Italian Episcopal Conference and Caritas Italiana.
Several dignitaries, including Cardinal Vicar Angelo De Donatis, Archbishop Giuseppe Baturi, Mayor of Rome Capital Roberto Gualtieri, President of the Lazio Region Francesco Rocca, Anna Maria Santoli, and Don Marco Pagniello, witnessed the inauguration.
220kg of pasta per hour
Spanning 500 square meters, the factory has a press capable of producing up to 220 kg of pasta per hour. It features four dryers. Pastificio Futuro is a venture poised to provide employment opportunities for up to twenty young individuals. Initially commencing operations with three workers, including a prisoner under article 21, a twenty-year-old under social services, and another residing in the community, the initiative aims to sell pasta in select supermarket chains and upscale restaurants, owing to its high quality.
Don Nicolò Ceccolini, chaplain of Casal del Marmo, emphasised the importance of offering future prospects to these young individuals, providing them with goals and pathways toward reintegration into society.
When the workshop reaches full operational capacity, it is anticipated to produce around 2 tons of pasta daily, equivalent to approximately 4,000 500-gram packets.
Bishop Benoni Ambarus, delegate for prison pastoral care of the diocese of Rome, underscored the need to shift the focus from punitive measures to post-sentence rehabilitation. The initiative aligns with the objective of fostering work and reintegration into society, serving as a significant step in the path of re-education and resurrection.
