Pope visits Italian prison for Holy Week foot-washing ritual

By FRANCES D’EMILIO
Associated Press

ROME (AP) — Pope Francis has washed the feet of a dozen inmates at a prison near Rome in a Holy Thursday ritual. Earlier, in a homily during Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica, Francis advised priests not to focus on worldly concerns such as power and status but to serve the faithful. The 85-year-old pontiff has struggled with mobility issues of late, and limped out of the basilica on the arm of an aide. Hours later, Francis was driven to a prison in Civitavecchia, a port town near Rome, for a private foot-washing ceremony that recalls Jesus’ gesture of humility for his apostles. Francis has made paying attention to those on society’s margins a hallmark of his papacy.