Pope Francis Washes Refugees’ Feet In Catholic Ritual
Pope Francis washed and kissed the feet of 12 refugees Thursday at
a migrant center in Castelnuovo di Porto outside of Rome, Italy. The ceremony
took place as part of the observances of Maundy
Thursday, the Holy Thursday before Easter that dates back to the story of
Jesus’ Last Supper. In a powerful gesture
of interfaith embrace, the pontiff knelt down before a group of eight men and
four women, among whom were Muslims, Coptic Christians and one Hindu.
“All of us together: Muslims, Hindus,
Catholics, Copts, Evangelicals ... all brothers and children of the
same God,” the pontiff said during a Mass before the foot washing ceremony.
“We want to live together in peace.”
In previous years,
Francis has observed Maundy Thursday by washing the feet ofprisoners, the elderly and people
with disabilities. Shortly after his election as pope in 2013, the pontiff
made waves by including women in his foot washing ceremony at a
juvenile detention center. This year, Francis
officially decreed that women would be included in the ceremony
from here on out. See photos: