(Portland) Church leaders in Maine will wash the feet of individuals as part of a ritual imitating a biblical scene symbolic of humility. The ceremony Thursday is being held outdoors at noon in Monument Square in Portland. Church leaders will pour water over people's feet and dry them with a towel, mimicking a biblical scene where Jesus Christ washes the feet of his disciples. Personal stories of some of the participants, including immigrants and homeless individuals, will be read aloud during the service in several languages including Spanish, French and Arabic. In 1955, Pope Pius XII restored the practice as a part of a general reform to encourage charity work and raise awareness of struggling individuals.
