Pope Francis defies custom in an annual ceremony by solely washing women's feet

 

In a gesture that emphasized humility, Pope Francis bathed the feet of twelve women in a Rome prison on Thursday. Only at the unique yearly service has the pope washed women's feet for the first time.

Leading the event at Rebibbia jail in Rome, the 87-year-old pope, who has recently been dealing with health and mobility issues, washed each woman's feet from his wheelchair while many of them were in tears.

The purpose of the foot-washing ritual, which is performed on the Thursday before Easter, is to replicate the act of Jesus Christ washing his disciples' feet the evening before his death.

Following his election, the pope has moved this ritual outside of Vatican City and observed it by giving prisoners', refugees', and crippled people's feet a wash.

Francis has cleaned Muslim and female feet over the years. Nonetheless, noted church historian and author Michael Walsh and liturgical expert Fr. Anthony Ruff told that they think this is the first time a pope has just bathed women's feet during the event.

The event was held at the female jail in Rome, directed by Nadia Fontana. According to her, this was the first time a pope had visited the facility, which housed 360 inmates and one kid.

During the early years of his pontificate, the pope overturned church regulations to allow women to participate in the rite, a decision that was opposed by the Vatican.

Prior to him, Benedict XVI exclusively cleaned the feet of people; subsequently, he changed this to only cleaning the feet of priests.

Pope Francis was allowed to preside over the Palm Sunday Mass service at the Vatican last week, but he surprisingly chose not to give the sermon. Instead, he was driven around in the popemobile.

His choice to forego the homily, or discourse, came as a surprise because the service signalled the start of Holy Week, the most revered week in the church calendar as Christians get ready to celebrate Easter.

A few of the pontiff's speeches have been read aloud by aides in recent weeks due to a health scare. He was checked into the hospital on February 28. Francis has struggled with episodes of bronchitis, colds, and flu throughout t

he winter.