Pope washes feet of prisoners at Holy Thursday service

Pope Francis holds a Mass on Holy Thursday at Saint Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, April 18, 2019. REUTERS/Remo Casilli

ROME (Reuters) - Pope Francis washed and kissed the feet of 12 prisoners on Thursday at a traditional service, telling them to shun any inmate hierarchy structure or law of the strongest and to help each other instead.

Francis' predecessors held the traditional Holy Thursday rite in one of Rome's great basilicas, washing the feet of 12 priests. But to emphasise its symbolism of service, Francis transferred it to places of confinement, such as prisons, immigrant centres or old age homes.