Pope washes feet of 12 men during Mass

Pope Benedict XVI humbly washed the feet of 12 men today, re-enacting Jesus’ washing of his apostles’ feet during the last supper and saying the act cleansed the “filth” of mankind.

As a choir’s hymn filled St John Lateran Basilica, Benedict poured water from a golden vase over each of the men’s feet and scrubbed each one dry in an act of humility and service.