In a significant symbolic shift ahead of Good Friday, Pope Leo XIV has reinstated traditional papal norms during his first Holy Thursday ceremony, marking a clear departure from the reform-driven approach of his predecessor, Pope Francis. 

At the Basilica of St. John Lateran, the cathedral of the Bishop of Rome, Leo washed the feet of 12 Roman priests, returning the ritual to its long-standing setting and exclusively clerical participants. Watch the video below: 

The move contrasts sharply with Francis’ groundbreaking 2013 decision to wash the feet of women and Muslims at a juvenile detention center, a historic first that reshaped perceptions of papal humility and inclusivity.

Francis had continued this practice throughout his papacy, visiting prisons, refugee centres, and care homes, expanding the ritual beyond traditional boundaries.

In 2016, he formally amended Church rules to allow the inclusion of women, laypeople, and individuals from diverse backgrounds in the ceremony.

Leo’s actions, however, signal a renewed emphasis on institutional continuity. His Holy Thursday choice follows a series of gestures reinforcing tradition, including wearing the red mozzetta at his first public appearance, returning to the papal summer residence at Castel Gandolfo, and moving into the Apostolic Palace, which has been unused since 2013.

Church observers view these moves as part of a broader effort to stabilise the Catholic Church after years of internal divisions.

Francis’ tenure, while transformative, had drawn mixed reactions, seen by some as too progressive and by others as insufficient.

Historian Gian Maria Vian noted that Leo’s decision to focus on priests is particularly significant at a time when the clergy faces mounting challenges, including declining vocations in many parts of the world.

The gesture, he said, is intended to strengthen ties between the pope and his clergy, especially during a period of uncertainty.

The Vatican also highlighted that 11 of the priests chosen were ordained just last year, underlining a message of encouragement to younger clergy.

On Good Friday, Leo’s early papacy is shaping up as one rooted in restoring tradition, even as the Church continues to navigate the legacy of reform and the pressures of a changing global faith community.