Pope Francis Washes Feet of 12 Prisoners on Holy Thursday and Recommends ".. a beautiful prayer for today: “But, Lord, forgive me. I will try to serve others..." FULL TEXT + Video

 Pope Francis presided over the Mass of the Lord’s Supper on Holy Thursday at a new prison complex in the port city of Civitavecchia, north of Rome, where we he washed the feet of 12 inmates. In remembrance of Jesus' washing of the feet of his disciples at the Last Supper. 

HOLY MASS IN COENA DOMINI

FULL TEXT HOMILY OF THE HOLY FATHER FRANCIS

New Penitentiary Complex of Civitavecchia (Rome)
Holy Thursday, 14 April 2022

Every Holy Thursday we read this passage from the Gospel: it is a simple thing. 

Jesus, with his friends, his disciples is at supper, the Passover supper; Jesus washing the feet of his disciples - strange thing he did: at that time the slaves washed their feet at the entrance to the house. And then, Jesus - with a gesture that also touches the heart - washes the feet of the traitor, the one who sells him. So is Jesus and he teaches us this, simply: among you, you must wash your feet. It is the symbol: among you, you must serve yourselves; one serves the other, without interest. How nice it would be if this were possible to do it every day and for all people: but there is always interest, which is like a snake that enters. 

And we are shocked when we say: “I went to that public office, they made me pay a tip”. This hurts, because it is not good. And U.S, many times, in life we ​​look for our interest, as if we were making a tip pay between us. Instead, it is important to do everything without interest: one serves the other, one is the brother of the other, one makes the other grow, one corrects the other, and so you have to keep things going. To serve! And then, the heart of Jesus, who to the traitor says: "Friend" and he too awaits him, until the end: he forgives everything. I would like to put this today in the hearts of all of us, even in mine: God forgives until the end: forgive everything. I would like to put this today in the hearts of all of us, even in mine: God forgives until the end: forgive everything. I would like to put this today in the hearts of all of us, even in mine: God forgives everything and God always forgives! We are the ones who get tired of asking for forgiveness. And each of us, perhaps, has something there in his heart, which he has been carrying for some time, which makes him "ron-ron", some skeleton hidden in the closet. But, ask Jesus for forgiveness: He forgives everything. He alone wants our confidence to ask for forgiveness. You can do it when you are alone, when you are with other companions, when you are with the priest. This is a beautiful prayer for today: “But, Lord, forgive me. I will try to serve others, but You serve me with Your forgiveness ”. Thus he paid with forgiveness. This is the thought that I would like to leave you. Serve, help one another, and be sure the Lord forgives. And how much does he forgive him? All! And up to where? All time! He never tires of forgiving: it is we who tire of asking for forgiveness.

And now, I will try to do the same gesture that Jesus did: wash the feet. I do it from the heart because we priests should be the first to serve others, not exploit others. Clericalism sometimes leads us down this path. But we must serve. This is a sign, also a sign of love for these brothers and sisters and for all of you here; a sign that means: “I don't judge anyone. I try to serve everyone ”. There is One who judges, but he is a somewhat strange Judge, the Lord: he judges and forgives. We follow this ceremony with the desire to serve and forgive ourselves.

 Source: Vatican.va