Pope Francis Washed And Kissed The Feet Of Inmates At A Young Offenders Prison In Rome.

The foot washing on Maundy Thursday echoes a New Testament passage in which Jesus honours his 12 disciples before his Crucifixion.

Francis has carried out similar ceremonies in Argentinian jails.

In a first for a Pope, he also attended to the feet of two woman prisoners. Several of the 12 were also Muslim.

Pope Francis already has officials on the back foot with his lack of regard for protocol.

He has insisted he will not live in the lavish Papal apartment, a 12-room property on the top floor of the Vatican's Apostolic Palace.

On seeing the apartment, he said: ‘But there is room for 300 people in here.’

Instead, Pope Francis has chosen a modest two-bedroom hotel-style residence at the Domus Santa Marta building.