Vatican City: Pope Leo XIV will wash the feet of twelve priests during the Mass in Coena Domini on Holy Thursday, continuing the traditional gesture of humility and service that marks the beginning of the Easter Triduum.
The liturgy will begin at 5:30 p.m. at the Basilica of Saint John Lateran, the cathedral of the Diocese of Rome.
According to a statement from the Diocese of Rome, the twelve priests chosen for the ritual include Fr Andrea Alessi, Fr Gabriele Di Menno Di Bucchianico, Fr Renzo Chiesa, Fr Francesco Melone, Fr Clody Merfalen, Fr Federico Pelosio, Fr Marco Petrolo, Fr Pietro Hieu Nguyen Huai, Fr Matteo Renzi, Fr Giuseppe Terranova, Fr Simone Troilo and Fr Enrico Maria Trusiani.
Eleven of the priests were ordained last year by Pope Leo XIV, reflecting his close pastoral connection with the newly ordained clergy. Fr Renzo Chiesa, who is not among those ordained last year, serves as the spiritual director of the Pontifical Roman Major Seminary.
The washing of the feet recalls the gesture of Jesus during the Last Supper, symbolising service and humility. At the end of the liturgy, the Pope will carry the Blessed Sacrament in procession to the place of repose in the Chapel of Saint Francis.
The Holy Thursday Mass, also known as the Mass of the Lord’s Supper, opens the most sacred days in the Christian calendar leading to Easter.