Pope Francis replies to letter from 18-year-old inmate serving 11-year sentence

LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- A teen serving an 11-year sentence at a juvenile jail in Sylmar sent a letter to Pope Francis and was surprised to receive a response back.

Carlos Adrian Vazquez Jr. wrote a letter to the pope asking for his forgiveness. The former gang member is serving his sentence for involuntary manslaughter.

Francis responded back to Vazquez's letter and said he was praying for the teen. Vazquez said the letter helped him regain his will to live. The teen is being transferred from a juvenile jail to Ironwood State Prison in Blythe.

The response letter is one of many Pope Francis has written to juvenile and adult inmates as part of his Jubilee of Mercy this year.