Pope Leo XIV Stoops in Humility: A Return to Tradition as the Pontiff Washes the Feet of His Priests

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-By Ruben Mario Brodrick 

In a stirring display of fraternity and internal renewal, Pope Leo XIV marked his first Holy Thursday as Pontiff by kneeling before a group of 12 Roman priests to perform the ancient ritual of the washing of the feet. This poignant moment, held within the hallowed walls of the Basilica of St. John Lateran, served as a powerful visual sermon on the essential bond between a bishop and his clergy.

​By choosing to wash the feet of priests—specifically 11 men he ordained just last year—Leo XIV signaled a shift back to a more traditional practice. While the previous decade saw the ceremony performed for the marginalized in society, Leo's focus this year was squarely on the "heart of the Church."

​The Message: "Self-Giving and Service"

​As the Pontiff navigated the physical demands of the ceremony, the atmosphere remained one of hushed reverence. In his homily, Leo XIV spoke of the gesture as one of "fraternity," urging his brother priests to remember that true authority is found in service.

• ​The Lesson of Christ: He reminded those gathered that Christ, by washing the feet of his disciples, offered the ultimate example of "self-gift" and love.

• ​The Call to Pastors: He urged the clergy to stand with the oppressed and to avoid the "coldness of bureaucracy," calling instead for a priesthood defined by warmth and the "justice of God."
• ​The Sacramental Bond: Leo highlighted the "intrinsic bond" between the institution of the Eucharist and the ministerial priesthood, both of which are celebrated on this day.

​A Reflective Tone for the Triduum

​By returning the "Mandatum" (the Command) to his diocesan cathedral, Pope Leo XIV has set a solemn and reflective tone for the Easter Triduum. 

It serves as a reminder to the entire Church hierarchy that to lead is, first and foremost, to serve those who serve the faithful. As the ceremony concluded, the image of the Pope kissing the feet of his fellow priests resonated as a call for spiritual solidarity and a renewal of the priestly mission.