Britannica
Sources used in this answer
How did Pope Francis change participation in the Maundy Thursday foot-washing ritual in 2016?
Created from Britannica articles
using AI.
AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
Easter
Resurrection of Christ, oil on wood panel by Raphael, 1499–1502; in the Museu de Arte de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil. 52 × 44 cm.
In 2016, Pope Francis issued the decree In Missa in Cena Domini, which formally revised the Roman Missal to allow women and girls to participate in the Maundy Thursday foot-washing ritual.123
Prior to this change, church tradition restricted the ceremony—which commemorates Jesus washing the feet of the Twelve Apostles—exclusively to men and boys. Following the decree, Pope Francis demonstrated this inclusive shift by washing the feet of both men and women, including individuals from various faiths, during that year's service at an asylum center.231