ROME (AFP) –
Pope Francis washed the feet of 12 young offenders including two girls and two
Muslims at a Rome prison on Thursday in an unprecedented version of an ancient
Easter ritual, seen as part of efforts to bring the Catholic Church closer to
those in need.
Pope Francis washed the feet of 12 young offenders including two girls and two
Muslims at a Rome prison on Thursday in an unprecedented version of an ancient
Easter ritual, seen as part of efforts to bring the Catholic Church closer to
those in need.
The pope knelt down, washing and kissing the
young prisoners’ feet in the first Holy Thursday ceremony of its kind performed
by a pontiff in prison, and the first to include women and Muslims.
young prisoners’ feet in the first Holy Thursday ceremony of its kind performed
by a pontiff in prison, and the first to include women and Muslims.
“Whoever is
the most high up must be at the service of others,” Francis said at the mass in
the Casal del Marmo youth prison, a fortnight after being elected Latin
America’s first pope.
the most high up must be at the service of others,” Francis said at the mass in
the Casal del Marmo youth prison, a fortnight after being elected Latin
America’s first pope.
“I do this with all my heart because it is my
duty as a priest, as a bishop. I have to be at your service. I love doing it because
this is what the Lord has taught me,” the 76-year-old said.
duty as a priest, as a bishop. I have to be at your service. I love doing it because
this is what the Lord has taught me,” the 76-year-old said.
Vatican spokesman Federico Lombardi said many of
the participants broke down in tears at the ceremony, which was open only to
Vatican media. One young man had to be replaced at the last moment because he
was too overcome with emotion.
the participants broke down in tears at the ceremony, which was open only to
Vatican media. One young man had to be replaced at the last moment because he
was too overcome with emotion.
Video footage from the ceremony showed the pope
pouring water over the feet — one of them with tattoos — bending down to kiss
them and looking each of the 12 prisoners in the eye before moving on.
pouring water over the feet — one of them with tattoos — bending down to kiss
them and looking each of the 12 prisoners in the eye before moving on.
Lombardi said that while this was the first time
a pope had washed women’s feet, Francis had performed this type of ceremony in
his native Argentina many times before becoming pope including in jails,
hospitals and old people’s homes.
a pope had washed women’s feet, Francis had performed this type of ceremony in
his native Argentina many times before becoming pope including in jails,
hospitals and old people’s homes.
The Holy Thursday ceremony is usually held in a
basilica in the city centre and commemorates the gesture of humility believed
to have been performed by Jesus Christ before his death to his 12 disciples at
their last meal.
basilica in the city centre and commemorates the gesture of humility believed
to have been performed by Jesus Christ before his death to his 12 disciples at
their last meal.
Popes performing the ritual have usually washed
the feet of priests.
the feet of priests.
Catholic traditionalists are likely to be riled
by the inclusion of women because all of Jesus’ disciples were male — the same
justification used to explain why only men can be Catholic priests.
by the inclusion of women because all of Jesus’ disciples were male — the same
justification used to explain why only men can be Catholic priests.
Francis has already broken with several Vatican
traditions with his informal style, although he is yet to begin tackling the
many problems assailing the Roman Catholic Church including reform of the
scandal-ridden Vatican bureaucracy and bank.
traditions with his informal style, although he is yet to begin tackling the
many problems assailing the Roman Catholic Church including reform of the
scandal-ridden Vatican bureaucracy and bank.
Local prison chaplain Gaetano Greco said he
hoped the ritual would be “a positive sign in the lives” of the young offenders
at the prison, which has around 50 inmates aged between 14 and 21.
hoped the ritual would be “a positive sign in the lives” of the young offenders
at the prison, which has around 50 inmates aged between 14 and 21.
Earlier on Thursday, the pontiff told Catholic
priests at a mass in St Peter’s Basilica to stop their “soul-searching” and
“introspection”.
priests at a mass in St Peter’s Basilica to stop their “soul-searching” and
“introspection”.
“We need to go out… to the outskirts where there
is suffering, bloodshed, blindness that longs for sight and prisoners in thrall
to many evil masters,” he said.
is suffering, bloodshed, blindness that longs for sight and prisoners in thrall
to many evil masters,” he said.
– Via Crucis –
The former archbishop of Buenos Aires, Jorge
Mario Bergoglio, was known in Argentina for his strong social advocacy during
his homeland’s devastating economic crisis, his own humble lifestyle and his
outreach in poor neighbourhoods.
Mario Bergoglio, was known in Argentina for his strong social advocacy during
his homeland’s devastating economic crisis, his own humble lifestyle and his
outreach in poor neighbourhoods.
Holy Thursday is the first of four intensive
days in the Christian calendar culminating in Easter Sunday, which commemorates
Christ’s resurrection.
days in the Christian calendar culminating in Easter Sunday, which commemorates
Christ’s resurrection.
On Friday, Francis will recite the Passion of
Christ — the story of the last hours of Jesus’s life — in St Peter’s Basilica,
before presiding over the Via Crucis — Way of the Cross — ceremony by the
Colosseum, where thousands of Christians were believed killed in Roman times.
Christ — the story of the last hours of Jesus’s life — in St Peter’s Basilica,
before presiding over the Via Crucis — Way of the Cross — ceremony by the
Colosseum, where thousands of Christians were believed killed in Roman times.
While a frail Benedict, now 85, presided over
last year’s celebrations from under a canopy next to the Colosseum, Francis is
expected to take part in the procession and even carry the wooden cross on his
shoulder for part of the way.
last year’s celebrations from under a canopy next to the Colosseum, Francis is
expected to take part in the procession and even carry the wooden cross on his
shoulder for part of the way.
On Saturday, the pontiff will take part in an
evening Easter vigil in St Peter’s Basilica. The Vatican has not yet said
whether Francis will follow the tradition of baptising eight adult converts to
the Catholic Church during the service.
evening Easter vigil in St Peter’s Basilica. The Vatican has not yet said
whether Francis will follow the tradition of baptising eight adult converts to
the Catholic Church during the service.
