Francis to wash feet of disabled and elderly

Pope Francis will wash the feet of 12 disabled and elderly people when he celebrates Mass on Maundy Thursday evening, the Vatican announced this week, writes Abigail Frymann. He will preside over the Mass and foot-washing ritual at the Father Carlo Gnocchi Foundation’s Our Lady of Providence Centre, a rehabilitation and care centre on the outskirts of Rome for the elderly and people with disabilities. Last year, the new Pope broke with tradition and washed the feet of young offenders in Rome’s Casal del Marmo centre.

On Holy Thursday morning the Pope will celebrate the traditional chrism Mass in St Peter’s Basilica. On Good Friday the Pope will lead the afternoon liturgy of the Lord’s Passion in St Peter’s Basilica, before participating in the evening in the Stations of the Cross at the Colosseum.
The Easter vigil will begin at 8.30 p.m. in St Peter’s Basilica, while the Easter morning Mass in St Peter’s Square will be followed by the papal blessing “Urbi et Orbi”.