Pope Francis to honor 12 migrants during Holy Thursday foot washing ceremony

'I am thinking of so many other people, so many marginalised people, so many asylum seekers, so many refugees.'

Pope Francis has celebrated Holy Thursday by washing the feet of inmates and disabled people in the past, but this year he will be washing the feet of 12 lucky migrants.

LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - On Thursday, March 24, Pope Francis will deliver a Chrism Mass at the Vatican then will move to the Reception Center for Asylum Seekers (CARA) to say the Mass of the Lord's Supper. 

After the Mass, the pontiff will wash the feet of twelve migrants, despite most of them not being Catholic.

L'osservatore Romano reported the pontiff's decision to wash the feet of those who do not believe is "the lifestyle that God suggests, even to non-Christians, as the authentic path of humanity."

By washing the feet of unbelieving migrants, Pope Francis will show all migrants the respect he believes they deserve, and the gesture holds the potential to change hearts around the world.

Pope Francis has often spoken about the migrant crisis and has called the world to have mercy on their needy souls.

Early last week Pope Francis compared the migrant needs to the Babylonian exile, saying: "In these cases, one may ask, Where is God? How is it that so much suffering can befall men, women and innocent children?

"Got is not absent even today in these dramatic situations. God is near, and makes great works of salvation for those who trust in him."

Earlier this year, Pope Francis proclaimed everyone deserves the basic values and principles of humanity, respect and dignity, regardless of what their history looks like.

In standing for everything he has called the world to do, Pope Francis will show his open heart for the fleeing migrants this Holy Thursday.

"I am thinking of so many other people, so many marginalized people, so many asylum seekers, so many refugees," Pope Francis stated. "There are so many who don't want to take responsibility for their destiny."

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