Francis sends rosary to jailed activist

Pope Francis has sent a rosary to a social activist in Argentina who was arrested and imprisoned last month, writes Isabel de Bertodano. Milagros Sala, founder of the Tupac Amaru political group, was charged with inciting violence after she led a protest against welfare cuts.

Sala is an indigenous leader, associated with various collectives and social organisations. Her powerful group, based in the province of Jujuy, provides assistance to poor families, running schools, health centres and factories. Subsidies amounting to US$24 million annually for her group have been cut by the Government and her imprisonment is seen as a political move, which President Mauricio Macri has been vocal in supporting.

When the initial charges were lifted Ms Sala was accused of “illicit association, fraud and extortion” and kept in prison. The Pope, who has known Ms Sala for years, sent the rosary to her via the director of an education group, Eduardo Palmeyro, who was at the Vatican this month.

Mr Palmeyro said the Pope “values the work of social campaigners and those who fight to change the situation of people who have nowhere to live or too little to eat”.