The pope washed the feet of twelve prisoners in a prison outside of Rome, a tradition he adopted when he was elected pope nine years ago, but also when he was archbishop of Buenos Aires.
In a ceremony without cameras or journalists, the Pope celebrated mass in the prison centre. Civitavecchia, outside of Rome. Francisco arrived at 3:00 p.m. and left at 6:50 p.m., as the prison chaplains explained.
The Vatican Press Office did not provide any information on this matter.
In the morning, the Pontiff celebrated the Christmas Mass. St. Peter’s Basilica, As every year, the holy oil is consecrated, in which all priests of the Roman clergy participate, and which is used in the rites of confirmation and anointing of the sick in the parishes of the Italian capital.
Cardinal Bergoglio in Buenos Aires mise On Holy Thursday in a prison, in a hospital, or in a nursing home for the poor, or with people on the fringes of society.
In 2017 the Pope went to a maximum security prison palianoA fortress south of Rome where he washed twelve prisoners, including three women and a Muslim. It was the only prison in Italy where members of the mafia who decided to cooperate with the justice were held in exchange for a reduced sentence, called “collaborators of justice”. Instead, in 2018 Pontiff chose the central prison in Rome ‘Queen Coeli’ there he also visited Division VIII, where prisoners who committed sexual offenses serve their sentences.
In 2019, Francis celebrated his Holy Thursday services at Velletri Prison in Rome. This gesture was interrupted by the pandemic. Last year, the Pope celebrated the ritual commemorating the washing of the feet of the apostles during the Last Supper. “At the Lord’s Supper” At the private residence of deposed Cardinal Angelo Becciu, who will testify at the Vatican on April 27 in London regarding the purchase of an unlawful property.
In any case, one of the most iconic images of his Papacy is represented by Francis. get down on my knees washing the feet of a group of prisoners.