Pope Francisco washes and kisses the legs of several prisoners

Pope Francisau and kissed the feet of 12 prisoners Thursday in a traditional service, telling them to avoid any hierarchy structure or the law of the fittest in prison, and help each other.

Francescu's ancestors carried the traditional rite of the Holy Thursday in one of Rome's great Basilicas, washing the feet of 12 priests. To emphasize the symbolism of the ministry, however, the current pope transferred it to places of suffering punishment, such as prisons, immigrant centers, or nursing homes.

He traveled this year to a prison in the town of Velletri, about 40km south of Rome. It is the fifth time since his election in 2013 that he held the ministry, which commemorates Jesus ' gesture of prostration to his apostles on the night before he died in prison.

Pope Francis told the prisoners that in Jesus ' day, washing the feet of visitors was the work of slaves and servants. This is the rule of Jesus and the rule of the gospel. The service rule, not the necessity or humiliation of others “, he said. /topchannel