Washing feet not folklore says pope

(ANSA) - Rome, April 13 - The washing of feet on Holy Thursday to recall Jesus's washing of his disciples feet at the Last Supper is "not folklore" and reminds us how much God gives us, Pope Francis said as he was set to wash the feet of 12 inmates of Paliano jail south of Rome.
    "Once the disciples were quarrelling amongst themselves on who was the greatest, the most important, and Jesus said 'the one who wants to be the greatest must become small and a servant'," Francis told the inmates. "That's what God does with us, all of us who are poor wretches, but he is great, he is good, he loves us, let't hink of this ceremony, which is not a folkloric ceremony, it is a gesture to recall what Jesus did, after this he took the bread and he took the wine and he gave us the love of God, let's thin, think about the love of God today".
    The pope said he would become a servant just as Jesus did.
    "The pope is the figure of Jesus, and I would like to do the same as he did." said Francis.