Pope washes feet of prisoners

 

Pope Francis celebrated Holy Thursday by washing and kissing the feet of 12 inmates.

The ritual , created to reenact Jesus washing the feet of his disciples on the eve of his crucifixion, was held in Rome's Casal de Marmo.

"This is a symbol, it is a sign -- washing your feet means I am at your service," Francis told the inmates. "Help one another. This is what Jesus teaches us. This is what I do . And I do it with my heart because it is my duty, as a priest and bishop. I must be at your service."

Watch a video of the ritual ( below) :