Pope visits women’s prison in Venice during first trip outside Rome for months

Pope Francis, 87, addressed inmates, staff and volunteers at Giudecca jail before a mass in St Mark’s Square

Pope Francis visited a prison for women in Venice on Sunday before a mass in the watery city, in the 87-year-old pontiff’s first trip outside Rome for seven months.

The one-day trip to Venice will be closely watched amid concerns over the fragile health of Francis, who has toured the world extensively in his 11 years as pope but has not travelled since visiting the French city of Marseille in September.