The Pope washed and kissed the feet of 12 female prisoners

Pope Francis washed and kissed the feet of 12 female inmates at a Rome prison during a Maundy Thursday ritual meant to highlight his call to service and humility, the Washington Post reported.
Francis, 87, performed the ritual from his wheelchair after recent illnesses compounded his mobility problems. The venue at the Rebibia prison was adapted to suit his needs: The women sat on chairs on a raised platform, which allowed the pope to move with ease from his wheelchair without having to strain.
Many of the women wept as Francis washed their feet, gently pouring water over one bare foot and drying it with a small towel. He finished the gesture by kissing each foot, often glancing at the woman with a smile.
The ceremony of washing the feet on Maundy Thursday is a hallmark of each Holy Week and recalls the washing of the feet that Jesus performed on his 12 apostles during their last supper before he was crucified.
Francis revolutionized the ritual at the Vatican, insisting since his first Maundy Thursday as pope in 2013 that women and people of other faiths be included among the 12. Previously, popes performed the ritual only for Catholic men in a basilica in Rome.
Each year, Francis travels to a prison, refugee center or youth detention center to emphasize his conviction that the priest's vocation is to serve above all those on the margins. In his short, casual homily, Francis explained the significance of the gesture.
"Jesus humbles himself. With this gesture, He makes us understand what He said: 'I am not here to be served, but to serve,'" the Pope said.
"He teaches us the way of service," added the head of the Roman Catholic Church./BGNES