Pope visits Venice to speak to artists, inmates behind Biennale's must-see prison show

Pope Francis delivers his message as he meets with young people in front of the Church of the Salute in Venice, April 28, 2024. Pope Francis enters St. Mark's Basilica in Venice, Italy, Sunday, April 28, 2024. The Pontiff arrived for his first-ever visit to the lagoon town including the Vatican pavilion at the 60th Biennal of Arts. Pope Francis is greeted by gondoliers upon his arrival in Venice, April 28, 2024.

Venice has always been a place of contrasts, of breathtaking beauty and devastating fragility, where history, religion, art and nature have collided over the centuries to produce an otherworldly gem of a city. But even for a place that prides itself on its culture of unusual encounters, Pope Francis’ visit Sunday stood out.