Pope Leo XIV shows support for the oppressed, criticizing the brutality of the war in Iran. The foot-washing ritual took place at the Basilica of St. John Lateran.

In a powerful symbolic gesture, Pope Leo XIV knelt alongside the oppressed, highlighting the brutality of acts of violence in the world. In a recent interview, he firmly criticized the war in Iran, stating that "God has given us an example, not of how to dominate, but of how to liberate." The ritual of washing feet, which took place at the Basilica of Saint John Lateran in Rome, marked a departure from the previous traditions of Pope Francis, who used to perform this ceremony in prisons or centers for the sick. Last year, despite health issues, Pope Francis visited the Regina Coeli prison to bring a message of hope to the inmates. Vatican officials explained that Pope Leo chose to wash the feet of priests to show his support for the Catholic clergy, thus reaffirming the bond between spiritual leadership and the community of believers.