Pope leads Easter Holy Week rituals in Rome

[Lahore_Real_Estate]

Friday, April 02, 2010
ROME: Pope Benedict XVI washed the feet of 12 priests during a Holy Thursday Last Supper Mass - one of a series of traditional Roman Catholic Holy Week rituals leading to Easter Sunday.

In the late afternoon ceremony at Rome's Basilica of St John Lateran, the 82-year-old pontiff recalled Jesus' similar act of humility to his disciples at the last meal he shared with them before his death.

Through the gesture and his accompanying words, Jesus wanted to represent the 'world's purification and reconciliation with God,' the pontiff said in his homily.

Jesus was also choosing the disciples as the first in a 'new priesthood,' Benedict added.

Earlier in another mass, the pontiff reminded modern-day priests of their duties - a call that comes amid a sexual abuse scandal that has shaken the church.

During the Chrism Mass in St Peter's Basilica, Benedict blessed holy oils, which will be used in Catholic sacraments, including baptisms, confirmations and last rites for the dying.

'Kings and priests are anointed with oil, which is thus a sign of dignity and responsibility, and likewise of the strength that comes from God,' the leader of the world's 1.1 billion Catholics said in his homily.

Benedict did not refer specifically to the scandal which stems from revelations of widespread sexual abuse of children by priests mainly in Ireland and Germany, but also of cases in Austria, Brazil and the United States.

The pontiff last month in a apostolic letter to Catholics in Ireland, apologized to victims of the abuse and rebuked bishops who failed to act against the perpetrators.

But the pontiff's gesture has not quelled criticism, including allegations, some directed at Benedict himself, that a cover-up was staged to avoid shaming the Catholic church.

Benedict is scheduled to preside over the traditional Via Crucis (Way of the Cross) procession in Rome's Colosseum on Good Friday and an Easter vigil at the Vatican on Saturday.