Pope celebrates Holy Thursday Mass in a prison

Source: Vatican News

Pope Francis presided over the Mass of the Lord's Supper on Thursday with inmates at a new prison for men and women, in Civitavecchia, a port city north of Rome. The Mass took place in the prison chapel with some of the inmates, security personnel, prison staff and authorities, including Italy's Minister of Justice.

Matteo Bruni, Holy See Press Officer director said in statement that Pope Francis gave a homily in which he spoke about the sign of the washing of the feet as something seen as "a strange thing" in this world, when we read in the Gospels about "Jesus washing the feet of the traitor, the one who betrayed him." The Pope added that, "Jesus teaches us this, simply, that you must wash each other's feet ... we serve one another, without expecting a return: how beautiful it would be if it were possible to do this every day and to all people."

The Pope went on to say that serving is Jesus saying "friend" to the one who betrayed him, waiting for him until the end, forgiving everything: "God forgives everything and God always forgives! It is we who tire of asking for forgiveness."

"Each one of us will have something that has been in our hearts for a long time, but we ask Jesus for forgiveness."

And he recalled "there is the Lord who judges, but it is what may seem a strange judgement: the Lord judges and forgives". The Pope concluded by encouraging people to follow this example, with "the desire to serve and forgive each other."

After his homily, Pope Francis carried out the traditional gesture of Jesus at the Last Supper, when He washed the feet of his disciples as a sign of his love, reflecting the importance of service and humility. The Pope washed the feet of 12 inmates, men and women, including people of various ages and nationalities.

At the end of the Mass, the prison director thanked the Holy Father and offered him a selection of products from the vegetable garden managed by the inmates, some works made by staff and inmates and a print of Civitavecchia.

The Press Office statement concludes by noting that, after the Mass, Pope Francis had a short meeting with about 50 people representing the inmates, officers and staff of the prison.

Watch a short Vatican Youtube film of the visit: www.youtube.com/watch?v=oFR2uU6e13U