Inmates work to carve, upholster chair for Pope Francis' visit to Philadelphia prison

Inmates Rameen Perrin, left, and Evan Davis working a chair carved out of walnut for Pope Francis to use during his planned visit to the prison next month, Monday, Aug. 24, 2015, at the Curran-Fromhold Correctional Facility in Philadelphia. Francis plans to meet on Sept. 27 with about 100 inmates and some of their relatives during a two-day trip to the city. (AP Photo/Michael Perez) (The Associated Press)

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A chair built by inmates carved out of walnut for Pope Francis to use during his planned visit to the prison next month, Monday, Aug. 24, 2015, at the Curran-Fromhold Correctional Facility in Philadelphia. Francis plans to meet on Sept. 27 with about 100 inmates and some of their relatives during a two-day trip to the city. (AP Photo/Michael Perez) (The Associated Press)

Inmates Rameen Perrin, left, and Evan Davis apply varnish to a chair carved out of walnut for Pope Francis to use during his planned visit to the prison next month, Monday, Aug. 24, 2015, at the Curran-Fromhold Correctional Facility in Philadelphia. Francis plans to meet on Sept. 27 with about 100 inmates and some of their relatives during a two-day trip to the city. (AP Photo/Michael Perez) (The Associated Press)

PHILADELPHIA – Inmates in the Philadelphia prison system are creating a stately chair to give to Pope Francis when he visits next month.

At a prison workshop on Monday, inmates worked to sand and refinish the wooden chair, which stands nearly 6 feet tall.

Another group of inmates previously hand-carved the piece out of walnut. Soon, it will be sent to nearby Curran-Fromhold Correctional Facility to be upholstered by other inmates.

Francis plans to go there Sept. 27 to meet with about 100 inmates and some of their relatives during a two-day trip to the city.

Francis has made prison ministry a focus of his pontificate. He meets frequently with inmates and on two occasions washed prisoners' feet during pre-Easter rituals.