Pope Benedict XVI celebrates Holy Thursday rites

Apr 13, 2006, 17:53 GMT

Vatican City - Pope Benedict XVI washed the feet of 12 men, a traditional gesture commemorating Jesus Christ's act of humility with his disciples, during Holy Thursday rites - his first since his election as pope one year ago.

The ceremony took place in Rome's Basilica of St John in Lateran and for the first time involved 12 laymen rather than priests.

Benedict's predecessor, the late John Paul II, had been unable to attend the ritual because of ill health. He was to pass away only nine days later.

In his homily Thursday, Benedict said the cleaning of the feet ritual represented 'an act of goodness' towards the suffering and the underprivileged.

'But there is an even more profound dimension: the Lord removes our filth with the purifying strength of his kindness,' Benedict said.

Earlier, the pope had recalled the sacrifice of an Italian priest killed by a Muslim extremist in Turkey last February 5 during a morning Mass in St Peter's.

'I would like to conclude my homily with the words of Andrea Santoro, the Roman priest who was murdered while he was praying in Trabzon: I am here to live in the midst of these people and allow Jesus to do so by giving him my flesh,' Benedict said.

Santoro, 60, was shot dead by an attacker who reportedly then shouted out 'God is great' in Arabic. A 16-year-old youth has been indicted on charges of murder in connection with the case.

Benedict, who is due to visit Turkey in November, spoke as he celebrated a Holy Chrism Mass in which holy oils used in the sacraments are blessed.

Holy Thursday rites centre around the role of the priesthood and the importance of the Eucharist.

The pope was due to take part in the traditional Via Crucis (Way of the Cross) recalling Jesus' suffering, crucifixion and death on Good Friday.

He is then scheduled to take part in an Easter Eve Mass late Saturday before delivering his traditional Urbi et Orbi (to the city and the world) message on Easter Sunday, the day of his 79th birthday.

Benedict was elected pope on April 19, 17 days after the death of his predecessor.