from your comments on yesterday's thread, i know you are looking at this just as neutral observers of a simple act. The point is not that he washed the feet of girls, or Muslims, or muslim girls, so much as it is a flouting of a rule [yes the current practice dates from 1955, Dave, but it was the revival of an ancient practice, which only included men]. those of us who live in novus ordo parishes, and shudder at Masses with liturgical DANCE, rock and roll masses, and all sorts of other leftwing Catholic HOOHAW, know what the logical extension of rule-flouting is. A protestant is never going to get what the issue here is, because things are far different in their churches. Liturgical abuse has been a problem in the Catholic church since Vat2 gone wild. Benedict was getting that back under control in many respects, and people were grateful for it. this has many fearful that the free-for-all will be back on. it could have been mitigated had the Pope changed the rule/rubric prior to his footwashing ritual.
i wish i had been aware of the controversy on Holy Thursday prior to Mass. Father Claudio mentioned something when we were in the sacristy getting ready for Mass about the Pope "washed EVERYBODY's feet today." I didn't understand the significance of that statement at the time bc i wasn't aware of what he had done and what the implications were.
Interesting comment because now they can delve into the infallibility of his interpretation of the faith. If he is the true authority on all things Roman Catholic, and he chose this action to assert himself as such or to promote discussion, what will be the outcome?