On Holy Thursday, we read this passage from the Gospel: it's a simple thing. Jesus, with his friends, his disciples, celebrates the Last Supper, the Passover Supper; Jesus washes the feet of his disciples—it's a strange thing he did: in those days, it was the slaves who washed 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 out. Jesus is like that, and he teaches us this, simply: you must wash one another's feet. That's the symbol: you must serve one another; one serves another, without self-interest. How wonderful it would be to be able to do this every day and for everyone: but there's always self-interest, it's like a snake entering. And we are scandalized when people say, "I went to that public service, they made me pay a tip." It hurts, because it's not right. And we, so often in life, seek our own interests, it's as if we're paying each other a tip. On the contrary, it's important to do everything selflessly: one serves another, one is a brother to another, one helps another grow, one corrects another, and so we must move things forward. To serve! And then, the heart of Jesus, who says to the traitor, "Friend," and who waits for him too, until the end: He forgives everything. I would like to put this in the heart of each of us today, even in my own: God forgives everything, and God always forgives! It is we who tire of asking for forgiveness. And each of us, perhaps, has something there, in our heart, that we've carried for a while, that's been going on in our minds, a skeleton hidden in the closet. But ask Jesus for forgiveness: He forgives everything. He simply wants the trust to ask for forgiveness. You can do it when you are alone, when you are with other companions, when you are with the priest. Here is a beautiful prayer for today: “But, Lord, forgive me. I will try to serve others, but you, serve me through your forgiveness.” He paid in this way, through forgiveness. This is the thought I would like to leave you with. To serve, to help one another, and to be certain that the Lord forgives. And how much does he forgive? Everything! And until when? Forever! He never tires of forgiving: it is we who tire of asking for forgiveness. And now, I am going to make the same gesture that Jesus made: washing feet. I do it wholeheartedly because we, priests, must be the first to serve others, not to exploit them. Clericalism sometimes leads us down this path. But we must serve. This is a sign, a sign also of love for these brothers and sisters and for all of you present here; A sign that means: “I don’t judge anyone. I seek to serve everyone.” There is One who judges, but He is a rather unusual Judge, the Lord: He judges and He forgives. Let us continue this ceremony with the desire to serve and forgive one another.

Pope Francis' Homily for Holy Thursday:

the "foot washing"

April 14, 2022

At the Civitavecchia prison complex

© Translation by Zenit, Anita Bourdin