Two days after the attacks, he went to a refugee shelter outside of Rome, where he washed and kissed the feet of Muslim migrants.
“We have different cultures and religions, but we are brothers and we want to live in peace,” Francis said at the camp, where he also performed the ritual on Christian and Hindu migrants. Francis began washing the feet of Muslims soon after he became pope in 2013.
Pope Francis reportedly proclaimed the refugees “children of the same god,” and his symbolic act speaks volumes at a critical moment.
With his visit to the shelter, Pope Francis’ message was loud and clear: Even when terrible things happen, let’s not fall back on prejudice. At the end of the day, we’re all people.
