Pope Francis visits the Velletri Correctional Facility, presiding over the Mass in Coena Domini with the Rite of the washing of the feet

Pope Francis has visited the Velletri Correctional Facility, presiding, as is tradition, over the celebration of the Mass in Coena Domini with the Rite of the washing of the feet. During the liturgy, the Holy Father gave a short off-the-cuff homily. Here is an English translation of the homily:

« I greet you all and I thank you for your hospitality.

I received a lovely letter a few days ago, from some of you who won’t be here today. They said such lovely things to me and I thank them for what they wrote.

In this prayer I am very united to all: those that are here and those that aren’t.

We heard what Jesus did; it’s interesting. The Gospel says: Jesus knowing that the Father had given everything in His hands,” namely, Jesus had all the power — all. And then, He begins to do this gesture of washing the feet. It’s a gesture that slaves did at that time, because there wasn’t asphalt on the streets and when the people arrived, they had dust on their feet. When they arrived at a house for a visit or for lunch, there were slaves that washed the feet. And Jesus does this gesture: He washes the feet; He does the gesture of a slave. He, who had all the power, He who was the Lord, does the gesture of a slave. And then He counsels all: “Do this gesture also among yourselves,” that is, serve one another, be brothers in service, not in ambition, as someone who dominates the other or one who strikes another. No. Be brothers in service. You are in need of something, of a service? I’ll do it for you. This is fraternity. Fraternity is humble — always: it is at service. And I will do this gesture — the Church wants the Bishop to do it every year, once a year, at least on Holy Thursday — to imitate Jesus’ gesture and also to do good with the example also for himself, because the Bishop isn’t the most important, but he must be the greater servant. And each one of us must be servant of the others.

This is Jesus’ rule and the rule of the Gospel: the rule of service, not of dominating, of harming, of humiliating others. Service! Once, when the Apostles were arguing among themselves, they were discussing “who is the most important among us,” Jesus took a child and said: “A child: if your heart isn’t the heart of a child, you won’t be my disciples.” A child’s heart, simple, humble but servant. And He adds an interesting thing there, which we can link with today’s gesture. He says: “Be careful, the Heads of Nations dominate, but it must not be so among you. The greatest must serve the littlest. One who feels himself the greatest must be servant.” All of us must also be servants. It’s true that in life there are problems: we quarrel among ourselves . . . however, this must be something that passes, a passing thing, because in our heart there must always be this love of service of the other; to be at the service of the other.

And may this gesture that I will do today be for all of us a gesture that helps us to be more servants of one another, more friends, more brothers in service. With these sentiments, we continue the celebration with the washing of the feet.”