"He
made boots for the Pope and was released from prison."
This is the story
of Bobby Penny, the first inmate taken under the care of Deacon
Thaddeus Horbowy, a retired chaplain for the US Federal Bureau of
Prisons.
Deacon Horbowy told Devin Watkins the story of the pair of Texan boots during a recent trip to Rome.
"Bobby Penny was my first inmate. He walked into my office and said,
'Chaplain, I've been sent here by the warden to work as your helper.'"
The encounter took place in Abilene, Texas some 25 years ago at a
prison facility which houses 3,000 inmates. Deacon Horbowy said he
noticed that Mr. Penny was "somehow different; he didn't have an
attitude".
Having worked well together for several years, Deacon Horbowy was
promoted and moved to another prison in Texas but was allowed to have
Bobby Penny transferred with him.
Despite being trained only in boot repair, Deacon Horbowy told Mr.
Penny to make him a pair of boots, saying “You’ve got plenty of time.
Learn it!” The result was impressive, he said.
After retiring, Deacon Horbowy was invited to come to Rome for Pope
Francis' Jubilee audience for Deacons. Not long before his pilgrimmage,
Deacon Horbowy saw Mr. Penny in the Texas prison and asked him to make a
pair of boots for the Pope.
Despite resistance from the prison's warden, Mr. Penny was able to
make the boots. Not long after their meeting, in a development which may
or may not be related, Deacon Horbowy received a letter from Mr. Penny
announcing he had made parole and was released from prison.
During his recent trip to Rome, Deacon Horbowy brought that pair of boots in hopes of presenting them to Pope Francis as a gift.