Pope Francis washed the feet of a dozen prisoners in a prison near Rome in a Holy Thursday ritual that symbolizes humility and service and emphasizes his papacy’s attention to those on the periphery of society.
He arrived in a convoy of Italian police cars at the Civitavecchia Prison, a port city 50 miles northwest of Rome. The ritual was closed to the public for security reasons and to protect the privacy of prisoners.
But then the Vatican said the pope washed his feet, following the example of Jesus, “as a sign of love inspired by love,” aimed at service and humility.
Pope Francis washed the feet of a dozen prisoners in a prison near Rome in a Holy Thursday ritual. Pictured: Pope Francis performs “Footwashing” of prisoners during a private visit to Civitavecchia Prison, northwest of Rome
The 12 prisoners include men and women of different ages and nationalities, the statement said. Symbolizing the number of Jesus’ apostles, the twelve sat in chairs on a raised platform.
The pope washed, dried, and then kissed the feet of each of the prisoners, all of whom wore masks against the spread of COVID-19. Some prisoners bent down to kiss the pope’s hands in gratitude.
In the chapel of the prison, the pope celebrated a liturgy attended by prisoners, some of the prison staff and the Italian Minister of Justice, a Vatican statement said.
The Vatican has not said what conditions may have been set for the pope, who has recently been crippled by a knee ligament problem, to perform the foot-washing ceremony.
For years, Francis has also suffered from sciatica, an inflammation of the nerves that can cause back and leg pain.
Earlier, during a Holy Thursday liturgy at St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican, Francis advised the 1,800 priests present not to focus on secular issues such as authority or status, but urged them to “serve with a clear conscience the holy and faithful people of God.” “.
Pope Francis washes the feet of prisoners at Civitavecchia Prison in Civitavecchia, 14 April
Francis makes no mention of decades of scandals involving Catholic priests who have sexually abused children and have often been transferred from parish to parish by bishops trying to avoid shame instead of protecting minors.
During Holy Thursday liturgy, large urns of oil are blessed for use in ceremonies in churches in the Roman area.
When Francis went to bless the oil by inhaling it, an assistant helped him get up from his chair and go to the silver urn.
At the end of the ceremony, Francis descended the steps from the altar, clinging to an assistant’s hand, and even as they helped him, he limped out of the basilica.
The Passion Week, which attracts hundreds of thousands of faithful to the Vatican, began with a Liturgy of Palm Sunday on April 10 in St. Peter’s Square and ends this Easter Sunday, when believers celebrate the resurrection of Jesus.
This year, the torchlight procession on the Way of the Cross in Rome returns to its traditional place in the ancient Colosseum after a two-year absence due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The 12 prisoners who took part in the ceremony included men and women of different ages and nationalities. Pictured: Pope greets people at Rome Prison on Thursday
The Passion Week, which attracts hundreds of thousands of faithful to the Vatican, began with a Liturgy of Palm Sunday on April 10 in St. Peter’s Square and ends this Easter Sunday, when believers celebrate the resurrection of Jesus. Pictured: Some 1,800 priests attend Pope Francis’ Holy Liturgy at St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican, April 14
The Vatican has invited a Russian and a Ukrainian woman working together at a hospital in Rome to carry a cross together during the procession.
This angered some Ukrainians, including the country’s ambassador to the Holy See and the archbishop of Kyiv.
Their objections focus on whether such a gesture of reconciliation is appropriate, given Russia’s invasion of its neighbor and its ongoing war against the country’s people.
The Vatican still continues with the composition of the participants in the procession, who take turns carrying a light cross during the procession, which is led by the pontiff and commemorates the death of Jesus through the crucifixion.
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