Pope Francis To Hold Holy Thursday Mass In Casal Del Marmo Youth Jail

Of all places one would expect to find Pope Francis celebrating a major ceremony before Easter, a youth prison probably ranks pretty low on the list.

Yet that's precisely where Pope Francis will celebrate Holy Thursday next week, washing and kissing prisoners' feet at Rome's Casal del Marmo jail for minors.

The move breaks from tradition set by Pope Francis' predecessors, who typically have held the Mass of the Lord's Supper in either St. Peter's Basilica or the Basilica of St. John Lateran, reports Catholic News Service.

The service involves washing and kissing the feet of 12 people and is intended to commemorate Jesus' humility toward his 12 apostles.

In Francis' previous capacity as Argentina's Cardinal Bergoglio, he often held the Holy Thursday ceremony in jails, hospitals or other locations associated with the poor and infirm.

According to Agence France-Presse, Pope Francis has spoken in favor of narrowing the gap between laypeople and the Church.