POPE fRANCIS WASHES THE FEET OF PARISHIONERS AND REFUGEES

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Featuring:  Lamentabur Jacob by Hubiera Mirado

The Pope denounced Monday’s  terrorist attacks in Brussels as a  “gesture of war” during an  Easter week mass with asylum- seekers at a shelter outside  Rome yesterday.  The Holy Thursday rite re- enacts the foot-washing ritual  Jesus performed on his apostles  before being crucified, and is  meant as a gesture of service.   Several of the migrants wept as  Francis knelt before them,  poured holy water on their feet,  wiped them clean and kissed  them.  Male and female refugees took  part in the ceremony, including  Catholics from Nigeria, three  Muslims from Mali, Syria and  Pakistan, and a Hindu man from  India.  The Vatican’s new norms have  said that anyone from the  “people of God” could be  chosen to participate in the  ritual.   The Pope denounced Monday’s  terrorist attacks in Brussels as a  “gesture of war” during an  Easter week mass with asylum- seekers at a shelter outside  Rome yesterday.  The Holy Thursday rite re- enacts the foot-washing ritual  Jesus performed on his apostles  before being crucified, and is  meant as a gesture of service.   Several of the migrants wept as  Francis knelt before them,  poured holy water on their feet,  wiped them clean and kissed  them.  Male and female refugees took  part in the ceremony, including  Catholics from Nigeria, three  Muslims from Mali, Syria and  Pakistan, and a Hindu man from  India.  The Vatican’s new norms have  said that anyone from the  “people of God” could be  chosen to participate in the  ritual.    The Pope denounced Monday’s terrorist attacks in Brussels as a “gesture  of war” during an Easter week mass with asylum-seekers at a shelter  outside Rome yesterday. The Holy Thursday rite re-enacts the foot-washing ritual Jesus performed  on his apostles before being crucified, and is meant as a gesture of  service. The Pontiff contrasted that gesture with the “gesture of destruction”  carried out by the Brussels attackers, saying they wanted to destroy the  brotherhood of humanity represented by the migrants. “We have different cultures and religions, but we are brothers and we  want to live in peace,” he said.