A Vatican decree opening up the feet-washing ceremony of Maundy Thursday to women is a further sign of Francis’ desire for inclusivity and will infuriate his opponents
Pope Francis seems to be increasingly ready to set the pace of the papal agenda, and on Monday of last week during his daily homily in the chapel of his guesthouse residence, the Casa Santa Maria, he once again upped the ante in his reform stakes. “Christians who obstinately maintain ‘It’s always been done this way’,” have a “closed heart”, he said. Two days later, the Vatican issued a decree removing restrictions on women taking part in the feet-washing ceremony during the Holy Thursday Liturgy that commemorates Jesus washing the feet of his 12 Apostles before the Last Suppe
28 January 2016, The Tablet
Francis' willingness to wash the feet of women will anger his opponents, argues Christopher Lamb
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