Pope Leo XIV will lead the first of several Easter observances on Holy Thursday in Rome, marking his debut in the sacred rites since becoming pontiff following the death of Pope Francis last year. The 88-year-old Francis passed away in April, ending his 12-year papacy. At the Archbasilica of Saint John Lateran, the cathedral church of Rome, Leo is expected to wash the feet of 12 priests, a ritual symbolizing humility and service. Unlike his predecessor, who often performed the rite in a prison with inmates, Leo is returning to more traditional settings. The first U.S. citizen to head the Catholic Church will also carry a large cross during the Stations of the Cross at the Colosseum on Good Friday. On Easter Sunday, he is scheduled to deliver the Urbi et Orbi blessing from St. Peter's Square to an expected crowd of tens of thousands. The Easter liturgies commemorate key moments in Christian belief: the Last Supper, crucifixion, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The foot-washing ceremony reflects Jesus' act toward his 12 apostles on Maundy Thursday, foundational to the Eucharist.
Pope Leo XIV's shift from prison visits to cathedral rituals signals a clear break from Francis's emphasis on outreach to the marginalized. By resuming older traditions, Leo is redefining the papacy's public image around formality rather than symbolism of inclusion. For the world's 1.4 billion Catholics, this subtle pivot may reflect a broader conservative drift in Church leadership. How this affects global Catholic engagement, especially in poorer nations, remains visible in gestures as simple as whose feet get washed.
