Pope visits Bolivia's most dangerous prison

Bolivia

Pope Francis ventured Friday into a violent, overcrowded and gang-ridden Bolivian prison that even houses children living with their parents, hugging and kissing inmates and urging them not to yield to the "devil."

If other events on the pope's three-nation tour of South America were joyous ones -- million-strong crowds of worshippers singing and praising the pontiff -- the trip to Bolivia's most dangerous prison was arguably a humbling descent into hell.

One disconsolate female inmate broke down in tears and threw herself into the pope's arms, saying she felt utterly abandoned.

It seemed a fitting stop on a grueling tour of his home continent that has centered largely on drawing attention to the plight of the poor and marginalized -- one of the 78-year-old pope's cherished themes.

The pontiff, who specifically requested the visit to the Palmasola prison, walked slowly through a courtyard where hundreds of prisoners and their families awaited him. 

Outside the fence, women in bright orange T-shirts marking the papal visit with his name in Spanish -- Francisco -- cheered the pontiff under a bright sun. One lady held a chubby-cheeked baby high above her head for the child to see.  

Back inside the penitentiary Francis exchanged hugs and kisses with prisoners. He also held children in his arms and kissed them, too.