Pope Francis just changed this rule for women!

Women may now participate in Holy Thursday foot washing.

Pope Francis is breaking with Catholic tradition and will allow women to participate in the foot washing ceremony performed four days before Easter. Church tradition has only included men in the ritual because the apostles were all men.

LOS ANGELES, CA (California Network) - The foot washing ceremony is commemorated on Holy Thursday. It is a reenactment of Jesus washing the feet of His apostles. Therefore, it is primarily a symbol of how Jesus modeled humility, for all of His followers.

Since then, priests have washed the feet of congregants to reflect Christ's humility. It has also been connected, in another tradition, to the Last Supper, where Jesus instituted the holy priesthood. That is why it has been restricted to men.

In a letter to Vatican officials, Pope Francis opened the rite to, "all members of the people of God." That statement is meant to include all of the members of Christ's faithful, including women.

In some parishes, women have already been included in foot washing ceremonies in the past, but the formal interpretation of the actual Rite had only authorized for men, because only men can be ordained to the priesthood. Now the Rite will be revised to allow women.

The move is being hailed as a step forward for women and their leadership in the Catholic Church. However, others with an agenda, including some of who want women to be ordained as priests, are using the change in the Rite to promote that agenda.

This change should not be construed as some kind of step in that direction. The teaching on the reservation of ordination to the priesthood to men alone cannot and will not be changed. The reason for this teaching has nothing to do with equality, rather it reflects the understanding of the very nature of the Church and the ministry exercised by a priest within the Church. 

Some Catholic conservatives are concerned that the agenda of some will attempt use this change in the foot-washing Rite to cause division. 

Pope Francis has a reputation for challenging some changeable traditions, emphasizing the pastoral aspect of his pontificate. However, he has reaffirmed the unchangeable teaching and Tradition of the Catholic Church on the nature and purpose of the Catholic priesthood as carrying on the very ministerial priesthood of Jesus Christ through His mystical Body, the Church.

This change in the foot washing Rite simply underscores that all of the members of the Church are called to discipleship, and all can exercise leadership in service within the Church.