[PHOTOS] Pope Francis Washes And Kisses Feet Of Muslim Refugees
In commemoration of the Maundy Thursday, Pope Francis re-enacts the foot-washing Jesus did to his 12 apostles before he was crucified 2,000 years ago.
By Persis Flores — 25 Mar 2016, 05:00 PM
At a time when the Paris and Brussels attacks speared the sentiments of anti-immigrants, the pontiff visited a refugee center in Castelnuovo di Porto to wash the feet of eight men and four women — a gesture pronouncing peace
The beautiful meaning behind the traditional feet washing rite all started when Jesus Christ demonstrated it to his apostles, as stated in John 13:12-17
“You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them."
The men include four Nigerian Catholics, three Malian, Syrian and Pakistani Muslims, and an Indian Hindu. The women include three Eritrean Christian migrants and one Italian who works for the center.
“All of us, together: Muslims, Hindi, Catholics, Cops, Evangelicals. But brothers, children of the same God. We want to live in peace, integrated,” said the pope, according to Rome Reports.
The pontiff’s gesture also reminded us of Romans 14:19 which says, “Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification.”
In 2013, Time Magazine gave the Person of the Year award to Pope Francis. Here are some of the beautiful photos taken during that year:
Pope Francis greets the crowd as he arrives for his general audience at St Peter's square on Wednesday, Dec 11, 2013 at the Vatican.
Image via Bangkok Post
Pope Francis hugging a man with neurofibromatosis in Saint Peter's Square, Vatican City three years ago
Image via NY Daily News
Pope Francis hugging a disabled child in Saint Peter's Square, Vatican City three years ago
Image via WSJ