Pope Francis Makes History: Washes Women’s Feet in Holy Thursday Ceremony

March 28, 2024March 28, 2024

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A picture of Pope Francis washing a woman's feet

Breaking from tradition, Pope Francis marked Holy Thursday by washing the feet of women inmates at Rebibbia prison in Rome, underscoring themes of service and humility in a ceremony that diverged from past practices. Despite recent health challenges, the 87-year-old pontiff, confined to a wheelchair, tenderly performed the ritual, evoking tears from the recipients. This act, mirroring Jesus Christ’s gesture of washing his disciples’ feet, has been a hallmark of Francis’s papacy, often conducted outside Vatican walls, among marginalized groups like prisoners, refugees, and the disabled.

While previous pontiffs have included women and non-Christians in the foot-washing ritual, experts suggest this is the first instance of a pope exclusively washing women’s feet during this ceremony. Nadia Fontana, the prison director, hailed the historic visit, highlighting the significance of Francis’s presence in a facility housing both inmates and a child—a gesture of inclusivity that resonates with the pope’s broader efforts to reform Church practices.

Pope Francis Marked Holy Thursday by Washing the Feet of Women; Modernizing Church Practices Amid Health Challenges

A picture of how Pope Francis Marked Holy Thursday by Washing the Feet of Women

Francis’s departure from his predecessors’ customs reflects his ongoing efforts to modernize Church traditions. Early in his papacy, he officially extended the foot-washing ceremony to include women, a move met with resistance within the Vatican. Contrastingly, his predecessor Benedict XVI adhered to a more conservative approach, limiting the ritual to men and later exclusively to priests.

This deviation comes amidst concerns about Francis’s health, evident in his recent omission of a homily during Palm Sunday Mass—an unexpected break from tradition during Holy Week, Christianity’s most sacred period. Despite these challenges, Francis continues to persevere, with aides occasionally delivering speeches on his behalf as he battles ongoing health issues, including bouts of bronchitis, colds, and the flu.

In an era marked by shifting norms and evolving interpretations of religious practices, Pope Francis’s actions serve as a testament to his commitment to inclusivity, humility, and service, resonating far beyond the confines of the Vatican.