Pope visits prison for foot washing, adds Russians and Ukrainians at Good Friday ritual
VATICAN CITY, April 15, (Reuters) - Pope Francis visited an Italian prison for a Holy Thursday Mass where he washed and kissed the feet of 12 inmates to commemorate Jesus' gesture of humility towards his apostles the night before he died.
A video released by the Vatican showed the pope washing and kissing the feet of 12 male and female inmates of various ages.
“We priests should be the first to serve others, not exploit others,” he told the prisoners during the Mass in the prison chapel.
On Good Friday, the day Christians commemorate Jesus' death by crucifixion, the pope presided at two services, including a candlelight “Via Crucis” (Way of the Cross) procession around Rome's Colosseum.
This year, the Vatican's decision to have both Ukrainians and Russians take part in the procession caused friction with Ukrainian
Catholic leaders.
On Easter Sunday, the most important day in the Christian liturgical calendar, he says Mass in St Peter's Square and delivers his “Urbi et Orbi” (to the city and the world) message and blessing.