Pope washes the feet of migrants during Holy Thursday Mass

BY Daniel Harkins | March 25 | comments icon 0 COMMENTS print icon print

Pope Francis kisses the foot of a refugee during Holy Thursday Mass of the Lord's Supper at the Center for Asylum Seekers in Castelnuovo di Porto, about 15 miles north of Rome March 24. The pope washed and kissed the feet of refugees, including Muslims, Hindus and Copts. (CNS photo/L'Osservatore Romano, handout) See POPE-MASS-REFUGEES March 24, 2016.

Pope washes the feet of migrants during Holy Thursday Mass

Pope Francis washed the feet of migrants of different faiths on Holy Thursday at a reception centre for asylum seekers.

“Today, right now, when I do the same gesture as Jesus in washing the feet of you 12, all of us are making the same gesture of brotherhood,” the Pope said last night. “We are different, we are unique. We have different cultures and religions, but we are brothers and we want to live in peace.”

“Each of you has your own story,” he added. “Many crosses, many pains, but also an open heart that wants brotherhood.”

During the Mass, the Holy Father washed the feet of one volunteer and 11 migrants—four Catholic youths from Nigeria, three Coptic women from Eritrea, three Muslims, and one Hindu youth from India.

The Pope celebrated the Holy Thursday Mass of the Lord’s Supper at the CARA Welcome and Hospitality Centre outside of Rome. Nearly 900 migrants and more than 100 volunteers attended the Mass. Most of the migrants hosted at CARA centre are Muslims, and among the Christians, most are Copts or Protestants, according to the Catholic News Agency.

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