Pope Francis to visit Bolivia's notorious Palmasola prison

Pope will visit as part of three-nation tour of Latin America

Palmasola Prison in Bolivia (Reuters)

To say that Bolivia’s maximum-security Palmasola prison is notorious would be an understatement of several degrees.

In 2013, a fight broke out at the Santa Cruz jail between rival gangs which resulted in the deaths of at least 30 people. Among those hacked or stabbed to death, or else killed by exploding gas bottles, was an 18-month child, living with its prisoner parents.

This summer, into this maelstrom will walk Pope Francis. On Friday, the Vatican confirmed that he will visit the jail as part of his Latin American tour of Ecuador, Paraguay and Bolivia.

(Getty Images)

Vatican Radio said the pope will arrive in Bolivia on July 8, and is scheduled to meet with the President before travelling to Santa Cruz de la Sierra which is situated in Eastern Bolivia and is the close to Palmasola. He will also visit a rehabilitation centre as part of his itinerary.

Reuters said the visit to the jail was typical of the pope’s behaviour. Prior to becoming Pope Francis, he had visited prisons as part of his duties as archbishop of Buenos Aires. He has visited at least three prisons in Italy.

The trip to Latin American, his second as pope, will give him a chance to emphasise his defence of the poor and his calls for social justice on his native continent.

The news agency said speaking out in defence of the poor and downtrodden has been a major plank of Francis's papacy. He has called for a re-distribution of wealth and highlighted how issues such as climate change affect poorest countries most.

Pope Francis is also due to make trips to Bosnia in June, Cuba and the United States in September and several African countries towards the end of the year