Pope makes Easter visit to fortress prison holding ex-mafiosi

Pope Francis greets prison officers as he arrives at the Paliano prison, south of Rome, Italy April 13, 2017. Osservatore Romano/Handout via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS PICTURE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY. EDITORIAL USE ONLY. NO RESALES. NO ARCHIVE

ROME (Reuters) - Pope Francis visited a fortress prison holding mafia turncoats on Thursday and again included a Muslim and women in a traditional Holy Week foot-washing ritual that previous popes had limited to Catholic men.

Francis said a Mass for the 70 inmates of the prison, a 16th century fortress at Paliano 75 km (47 miles) south of Rome.