  We demonstrate that the Penrose inequality is valid for spherically symmetric
geometries even when the horizon is immersed in matter. The matter field need
not be at rest. The only restriction is that the source satisfies the weak
energy condition outside the horizon. No restrictions are placed on the matter
inside the horizon. The proof of the Penrose inequality gives a new necessary
condition for the formation of trapped surfaces. This formulation can also be
adapted to give a sufficient condition. We show that a modification of the
Penrose inequality proposed by Gibbons for charged black holes can be broken in
early stages of gravitational collapse. This investigation is based exclusively
on the initial data formulation of General Relativity.
