ROME — Pope Leo XIV washed the feet of 12 priests during the Holy Thursday foot-washing ceremony at the Vatican, marking a return to the pre-2013 practice of limiting participants in the ritual to Catholic clergy. The ceremony, held on April 17, 2025, recalls the foot-washing Jesus performed on his 12 apostles at the Last Supper before his crucifixion.

The 12 priests whose feet were washed included 11 ordained by Leo XIV in 2025 and the Rev. Renzo Chiesa, director of the Rome Diocese's primary seminary. During the ritual, the pope poured water from a golden pitcher over the priests' feet, dried them with a white cloth, and bestowed a kiss on each.

In his homily, Leo XIV described the foot-washing gesture as a gratuitous and humble gesture that demonstrates the true omnipotence of God. He said that through the act, Jesus purifies the image of God from idolatry and blasphemy and purifies the image of humanity. "In contrast, as true God and true man, Christ offers us the example of self-giving, service and love," Leo XIV said.

Prior to 2013, the Holy Thursday foot-washing ritual at the Rome basilica was performed only on Catholic men. Pope Francis began including women and people of other faiths among the 12 participants in 2013. Francis included laypeople and non-Christians in foot-washing ceremonies at prisons, juvenile detention halls, and centers for asylum-seekers. Francis criticized what he called the clerical culture that places priests above the laity and believed that culture was responsible for abuses of power epitomized by the clergy sexual abuse crisis.

Leo XIV's restoration of priests' prominent role in the 2025 foot-washing ritual reflects his effort to encourage Catholic clergy and reinforce his appreciation of their service. The pope has also spoken about the need to protect priests' rights.

In his April prayer intentions, released by the Vatican, Leo XIV devoted attention to priests in crisis who have lost hope because of loneliness, exhaustion, or doubt. He said that priests should not feel like mere functionaries or lonely heroes but like beloved sons, humble disciples, and pastors sustained by the prayer of their people. Leo XIV asked God to teach the faithful to care for their priests, to listen without judging, to give thanks without demanding perfection, and to accompany them with prayer.