Pope Breaking Tradition, Will Visit Prison and Wash Feet of Inmates on Holy Thursday

Pope Francis has dealt us so many surprises in his first week that it’s hard to qualify anything as a surprise anymore.

According to the Holy See Press Office, Francis will celebrate Holy Thursday at Casal del Marmo, a prison for youth in Rome, and will wash the feet of twelve prisoners.

Traditionally, the pope washes the feet of twelve retired priests of the Diocese of Rome at St. John Lateran’s Basilica, which is the cathedral church of the See of Rome and thus the pope’s official church.

Francis, however, has yet to take possession of the basilica and will likely not do so until after Easter.

Vatican insiders initially reported that the ceremony would be moved to St. Peter’s Basilica and tickets would be distributed to the homeless throughout Rome.

It now seems likely that those tickets are being dispensed for the Chrism Mass, which Francis will celebrate on Thursday morning with the priests of the diocese.