Pope washes feet of mafia snitches in Easter ritual: HumSub.TV
Pope washes feet of mafia snitches in Easter ritual: HumSub.TV: Pope Francis washed the feet of former mafiosi on Thursday in a prison known for housing inmates who have informed on old mobster allies.
The closed-door visit to Paliano prison outside Rome saw the 80-year-old pontiff kneel before a small group of inmates, pouring water over their feet, drying them with a towel and bending to kiss them in an age-old Easter tradition.
“We are all sinners, we all have our limits and our shortcomings,” Francis told the prisoners.
The jail’s inmates include some 50 former mafiosi who made deals to provide anti-mafia prosecutors with information in exchange for shorter prison sentences, along with other informers, according to the chaplain.
The rite, performed yearly on Maundy or Holy Thursday, commemorates Jesus Christ’s Last Supper with the apostles.
In Christian tradition, Jesus is said to have washed their feet ahead of the meal in a gesture of humility.
“The feet washing ritual dates back to Roman mealtimes, because the roads were not paved and people entered houses with their feet covered in dust,” the grandfatherly Francis explained to the prisoners.
“One of the gestures of welcome made by hosts was to wash their guests’ feet. But it would be the slaves that did it. Jesus turned the ritual on its head. He washed them,” he said.
“I am not telling you to start washing each other’s feet that would be a joke!
“But I tell you, if you can help, if you can perform a service for a companion here in prison, do it, because this is love, this is what washing feet is: serving others,” he added.
In 2014 Francis excommunicated members of the mafia, which he called “the adoration of evil and contempt for common good”.
The bishop of Palestrina, Domenico Sigalini, said by choosing turncoats for the ceremony the pope “wants to send a message to those who chose to repent, those usually judged as villains while often showing a personal maturity and an attempt to change”.
The twelve inmates washed by Francis included a Muslim man who is converting to the Catholic faith, three women, an Argentine and an Albanian. Two of the Italians taking part are serving life sentences, the Vatican said.
The jailbirds presented the pope with organic vegetables grown in the prison’s allotment as well as cakes they had made, a cross fashioned out of olive wood and white wool cloak.
Thursday’s ceremony is part of the run-up to Easter Sunday.
Since his election in 2013, the pope has moved the feet washing ceremony outside the walls of the Vatican and into centres for vulnerable people or those on society’s margins.
In his first year he visited a youth detention centre where he performed the ritual on a group of young inmates including two Muslims – the first Catholic leader ever to do so.
In 2014 he washed the feet of elderly and disabled people, in 2015 he did so in a prison, and last year he chose a migrant reception centre.
Pope washes feet of mafia snitches in Easter ritual: HumSub.TV
Pope washes feet of mafia snitches in Easter ritual: HumSub.TV
About HumSub TV
Introduction
HumSub TV is Pakistan’s leading forwarding-thinking, edutainment channel, aimed at promoting and upholding peace, interfaith harmony and social responsibility within Pakistan through informative and insightful programmes and documentaries; analytical interviews on issues pertaining to social, economic, legal and environmental set-up; dedicated shows to canvass and thereby promote the culture and heritage of Pakistan and in-depth coverage of national and international news.
HumSub TV is the first channel and thus a pioneer within its own right that mainly focuses on emphasising the “Rights” as well as the “Obligations” of the citizens in light of the Constitution of Pakistan, numerous International declarations signed by the Government and various laws that have been promulgated over the years but are not in the knowledge of the common citizen.
HumSub TV also aims to enter into bilateral agreements with other countries to promote not only their culture, heritage and tourism, but also their educational and medical facilities.
Following the successful launch of HumSub TV’s head office in Blue Area, Islamabad; the bureau office has been set up in Lahore.
Vision
To project positive image building of Pakistan and inculcate nationalism, as per the vision of the founder of the nation, Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah.
Mission
HumSub TV is resolute about the promotion of a pluralistic, inclusive and egalitarian society in Pakistan where all citizens are allowed to contribute to promote interfaith harmony, peace and collective wisdom in the social, political and economic development of Pakistan and to encourage critical and lateral thinking in the society. HumSub TV strives to make a positive contribution to this end.
HumSub TV’s Theme
HumSub TV, Pakistan’s first EDUTAINMENT Channel, has been set up for not only those audience residing in Pakistan or overseas but the international community on the whole. The vision of the channel is to project positive image building of Pakistan and inculcate nationalism as per the vision of the founder of the nation.
HumSub TV strives to make a positive contribution to this end by promoting pluralism, inclusiveness and egality in Pakistan and give voice to the suppressed. It endeavors to act as a positive catalyst for social change and Pakistani nationalism. It envisions providing a platform for airing critical and lateral thinking and collective wisdom by inviting positive minded intellectuals and opinion forming individuals for the promotion of interfaith harmony and peace in the social, political and economic development of Pakistan.
Whereas the channel airs upbeat edutainment programmes, it, nonetheless, has the primary objective of countering negative anti-Pakistan regional and international propaganda as well as advancing fundamental rights as encapsulated in the Constitution of Pakistan.
For More News:
Visit HumSub TV