On Holy Thursday, Pope Francis visited the prison of Borgata Aurelia, a few kilometers from Rome.
There, he washed the feet of twelve inmates—men and women of different races and social backgrounds. Also, present at the ceremony were the Italian Minister of Justice and various prison authorities.
The Pope addressed everyone reminding them that Jesus had called his betrayers friends and that it is the job of priests to be the first to serve. He also insisted that God forgives everything and every time.
POPE FRANCIS
This is a gesture that says: 'I do not judge anyone. I try to serve everyone.' There is one who judges, but He is a somewhat strange judge because the Lord both judges and forgives.
Then Pope Francis washed the feet of the inmates despite his knee pain.
This is the sixth time the Pope has celebrated the Holy Thursday ceremony in a prison. It is a tradition he started as the bishop of Buenos Aires. However, due to the pandemic, he has not been able to do it for the last two years.
The head of prison chaplains in Italy thanked the Pope for the gesture. In a statement, he said that washing the feet of those who have wounded innocent people 'is an incomprehensible and scandalous gesture of humility' that 'Jesus left to humanity.'
RM
TR: KG
