From Background Support to Bold Calling: Francesco's Testimony

Francesco Di Turo never thought that prison ministry would become his calling. In fact, for more than 10 years, he worked in the background, supporting Prison Fellowship Italy through administrative tasks and project management. It wasn’t until a reluctant trip to Nairobi—and a divine prompting through prayer—that life’s calling was truly revealed.

“I helped my mother-in-law, Marcella [Prison Fellowship Italy President], with projects like Building Bridges and Sycamore Tree Project,” Francesco said. “I was always behind the scenes.”

In 2020, Marcella asked him to attend Prison Fellowship International’s global training for The Prisoner’s Journey in Nairobi, Kenya. The COVID-19 pandemic hit, cancelling the event and Francesco jokingly thought, “Finally, I have freed myself from my mother-in-law and the prison!” When the training was rescheduled for 2022, he initially resisted. But after praying, listening and discerning God’s voice, he agreed to go. “One day, I began to pray and the Word of God came to me and said: ‘Courage, Zerubbabel. Off to work.’” he said, referencing Haggai 2:4-6.

 

Left: Francesco receives his Program Coordinator Training certificate of completion from Prison Fellowship President and CEO, Andy Corley and former Vice President of Global Impact, Rae Wood.

During the training, a gathering of more than 100 individuals from 23 countries, Francesco found what God was asking of his life. “I visited a prison during that trip. And it was there I felt it: This is my mission. In that moment, I accepted the Program Coordinator role for The Prisoner’s Journey in Italy.”

Right: Francesco attends a worship session in a Kenyan prison as part of the Program Coordinator training event.

 

 

Today, Francesco oversees The Prisoner’s Journey program operations, along with facilitators and volunteers in 30 prisons across the country. Prison Fellowship Italy operates in around 50 prisons total, and the ministry has mobilized nearly 1,000 volunteers—most from the Catholic Charismatic Renewal—to bring light into the darkest places.

Left: Francesco leads trainings for The Prisoner’s Journey volunteer facilitators

 

 

“In each prison, the situation is different according to the type of prisoner,” he explained. “There are high-, medium- and low-security facilities, prisons for sex offenders, mafia and more. But everywhere, the routine is monotonous. There is deep boredom, tension and loneliness.”

The Prisoner’s Journey’s impact is profound amongst these harsh realities. “When we enter prisons, we bring new light and new hope,” he shared.

For Francesco, these moments of transformation are where he most clearly sees God’s grace.

“The grace of God arrives where we cannot even imagine,” he said. “When I see how our presence moves the prisoners, my own faith is renewed. It becomes concrete.”

Francesco and Prison Fellowship Italy are not just committed to incarcerated individuals, but also to their families. On Italian Father’s Day, they hosted events in nine prisons to reunite 200 incarcerated fathers with their children for a meal. At the end, each child gave their father a shirt that read “Papa, I love you.”

Right: Italian children’s shirts designed for their incarcerated fathers. 

At Christmas, the celebration grows even larger. Last year, Prison Fellowship Italy served Christmas lunches in 50 prisons, totaling 10,000 meals, in partnership with Michelin-starred chefs, musicians and entertainers. During these events, graduates of The Prisoner’s Journey have the opportunity to share their testimony with the entire prison population.

“These are moments when the whole prison can see what transformation looks like,” Francesco explains. “It’s also a way to invite new participants to join The Prisoner’s Journey.”

But the work is not without challenges. Italy’s increasingly secular environment makes it difficult to gain access to some prisons. Many prison directors are skeptical of faith-based programs.

“Our biggest obstacle is getting permission. That’s why I try to do it the way Jesus would—by building relationships. When directors see our sincerity and the humanity of what we are presenting, they become more open.”

Francesco sees his role as planting seeds and trusting God to send the rain. He shared that John 14:26 has guided his journey: “But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.”

Looking ahead, Francesco dreams of building a stronger ministry infrastructure to support the growing demand for Prison Fellowship Italy’s services. Currently, he is the only paid staff member as he works part-time from home or his church. He hopes to establish regional offices across the nation and secure funding to hire more staff.

“We’re growing,” he says. “We need partners who believe in what we’re doing and can help us create jobs for formerly incarcerated individuals, provide funds to bring The Prisoner’s Journey into more prisons and continue to build relationships that transform lives.”

When asked why he continues this work, Francesco’s answer is simple: “It’s a question of sharing God’s love with the least of these. Prisoners are often considered ‘the least’ on this earth [Matthew 25:40]. Through this ministry, God’s love grows in me.”

Interview translation courtesy of: Orlando Rose D’Costa