Pope sends oils to quake zone
Pope Benedict XVI has sent ceremonial oils blessed on Holy Thursday to Italy's devastated quake zone in a sign of solidarity with the survivors.
Benedict, 81, led a ceremony in St Peter's Basilica which included the traditional blessing of holy oils, with some to be sent to the mountainous Abruzzo region.
The Pope plans to tour the area of Italy's worst quake in three decades after the Easter holiday.
The leader of the Roman Catholic church exchanged his gold-coloured robes for a long white apron to perform Thursday evening's feet-washing ceremony at St John Lateran Basilica in Rome.
Money collected from the pilgrims and tourists who packed the basilica will be sent to help the small Catholic community in Gaza.
During his homily, Benedict urged people to recognise the "brothers and sisters who need our help, who are awaiting our word and our action".
The feet-washing ceremony symbolises humility and commemorates Jesus's last supper with his 12 apostles on the evening before his Good Friday crucifixion.
Bending over before each of the priests, who were seated in a row, Benedict poured water from a golden pitcher over one bare foot of each man, with the drops being caught in a golden basin. Then the pontiff dried the feet with a simple white cloth.
In the past, the Holy See has sent aid to Gaza to help relief efforts being carried out by nuns from Mother Teresa's Missionaries of Charity and other Catholic groups.
Benedict will make a pastoral pilgrimage next month that will take him to Israel, Jordan and the Palestinian territories.