Pope Francis washed the feet of 12 elderly and disabled people Thursday April 17,2014

Pope Francis washed the feet of 12 elderly and disabled people Thursday April 17,2014 - women and non-Catholics among them - in a pre-Easter ritual designed to show his willingness to serve others like a 'slave'

Francis' decision in 2013 to perform the Holy Thursday ritual on women and Muslim inmates at a juvenile detention center helped define his rule-breaking papacy just two weeks after his election

It riled traditionalist Catholics, who pointed to the Vatican's own regulations that the ritual be performed only on men since Jesus' 12 apostles were men.

Amphoras containing holy oil are carried by prelates in St. Peter's Basilica during a mass at the Vatican

Pope Francis touches an amphora containing holy oil during the mass

HUMILITY BEFORE GOD: THE WASHING OF THE FEET

The Washing of the Feet, also known as Maundy (from Latin 'mandatum') is a religious rite observed by several Christian denominations.
Jesus performed the act in John 13:1–17. He said: 'If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet.
'For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you. Most assuredly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master; nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him.
'If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.'
Many denominations observe the washing of the feet on Maundy Thursday of Holy Week. Foot washing rites are also practiced by many Anglican, Lutheran and Methodist churches.
At one time, most of the European monarchs also performed the Washing of Feet in their royal courts on Maundy Thursday, a practice continued by the Austro-Hungarian Emperor and the King of Spain up to the beginning of the 20th century.