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Friday 25 March 2016

Pope Francis Wash & Kiss The Feet Of 4 Nigerian Catholics, 3 Muslims,5 Others In Maundy Thursday Rite As Devout Christians Across The World Celebrate Easter

Kiss: Pope Francis performed the gesture of welcome and brotherhood following the Brussels attacks
Pope Francis has washed and kissed the feet of Muslim, Orthodox, Hindu and Catholic refugees, declaring them children of the same God.
His gesture came after the Brussels attacks, which he denounced as a ‘gesture of war’ and condemned arms makers as partly responsible.
The Pope’s comments came during an Easter Week Mass with asylum seekers at a refugee shelter in Castelnuovo di Porto, outside Rome.
Gesture: Francis washed and kissed the feet of Muslim, Orthodox, Hindu and Catholic refugees, declaring them children of the same God
The Maundy Thursday rite re-enacts the foot-washing ritual Jesus Christ performed on his apostles before being crucified 2,000 years ago.
Meanwhile other Christian communities held re-enactments of the crucifixion, violent flagellation ceremonies, parades and pilgrimages.
Marking the start of Easter, the global celebrations take on varying forms according to local Christian customs and ancient traditions.
In the Philippines, Catholics have been photographed prostrating in front of a chapel as they are whipped in a flagellation ceremony.
The capital Manila is also hosting street plays featuring actors playing the role of a tortured Christ and Roman soldiers.
Believers around the world mark Easter in celebration of the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ as told in the New Testament.
Bending down: Pope Francis kisses the foot of a man during a foot-washing ritual at the Castelnuovo di Porto refugees centre near Rome
The 11 include four Catholic men from Nigeria, three Muslim men from Mali, Syria and Pakistan; three Eritrean Coptic Christian women and a Hindu Indian man.


Rite: He re-enacted the foot-washing ritual Jesus performed on his apostles before being crucified, and it is meant as a gesture of service

Comparison: Francis contrasted his gesture with the 'gesture of destruction' carried out by the Brussels attackers

Covered in blood and carrying a tunic, he was whipped by actors playing Roman soldiers during the religious re-enactment

An actor playing the role of Jesus Christ makes his way through the the streets of Manila during the city's Holy Week celebrations

There ceremony known as Cristo de las Injurias, or the Silent Procession, in Zamora, Spain sees its 2,300 members swear to keep silent in the city's cathedral

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