In 2013, Pope Francis celebrated one of the first Masses of his pontificate at the Casal del Marmo juvenile prison on the outskirts of Rome. This year, he will return there to wash the feet of twelve prisoners during Holy Thursday Mass.
POPE FRANCIS
This is a gesture that says: 'I do not judge anyone. I try to serve everyone.' There is one who judges, but He is a somewhat strange judge because the Lord both judges and forgives.
In 2018, one of those inmates described it as a powerful experience.
ALI BAHAZE
Former inmate, Regina Coeli prison
When I arrived, I said to my companion next to me. 'But, do we have to wash ourselves or the Pope?' And he said, 'No. It is he who does it.' The Pope then explained that as Jesus washed the feet of his disciples, so would he. I still did not believe it but when he approached me, I started crying. I could not believe it.
Pope Francis has celebrated Holy Thursday Mass in a prison several times throughout his papacy. It is a tradition he began as the Bishop of Buenos Aires but had to pause for a couple of years due to the pandemic.
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