Catholic pontiff washes prisoners’ feet as sign of humility

chika ebuzor

April 2, 2015 9:04 PM

Pope Francis has revolutionized the Holy Thursday feet washing ceremony by performing it on women and non-Catholics. The Vatican rules say the ritual should be performed on men, given that Jesus' apostles were male.

Pope Francis

His Holiness, Pope Francis performed a feet washing ceremony at Rome's main prison, on Thursday in a Pre-Easter ritual meant to show his willingness to serve. Associated Press (AP) reports that he washed the feet of 12 inmates and a baby

In his normal humble self, He asked them to pray that he, too, might be cleansed of his "filth."

The inmates were moved to tears as the pontiff bent down humbly to perform the feet washing ceremony, to mark Holy Thursday. I watched him bend down and pour water from a pitcher onto my feet, and dried it and then kissed it- an inmate said.

This action by the Pope reminds us of the feet washing ritual that Jesus performed on his apostles before he was crucified. The inmates comprised of six men, six women and a baby boy, who was carried on the lap, by his mother.

Reporters say Pope Francis washed and kissed his little foot as well.

Religious leaders and lovers of the catholic pontiff say “Pope Francis has revolutionized the Holy Thursday feet-washing ceremony by performing it on women and non-Catholics and by travelling to detention centers and facilities for the sick.”

The Vatican rules say the ritual should be performed on men, given that Jesus' apostles were male.

chika ebuzor