On Thursday, the Vatican announced that there would be changes to the Easter week ritual, where Pope Francis washes the feet of 12 men recalling Jesus’ 12 apostles.
The Vatican liturgy office stated the rite can now be performed on anyone “chosen from among the people of God.” Previously this custom was reserved for Christian men only. Source.
On the surface, the announcement means woman would now be allowed to participate in the rite. But in the Vatican’s announcement there was no mention of gender or religious affiliation.
However, Pope Francis has already performed the rite on Muslims, which would allude that they are included in the allowed group- or those “chosen from among the people of God.”
Pope Francis has also been known to visit mosques, including being the first Pope to ever visit Rome’s ‘Great Mosque’ Source.
This past November Pope Francis stated “Christians and Muslims are brothers and sisters,” while visiting Africa. A local Imam (or Islamic religious leader) responded to the Pope, saying “The relationship between our Christian brothers and sisters and ourselves is so deep that no maneuver seeking to undermine it will succeed. The Christians and Muslims of this country are obliged to live together and love each other.”Source.
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