Pope overturns tradition to allow women in Lenten foot-washing rite

Pope Francis hasoverturned centuries of tradition that banned women from a foot-washing service during Lent, upsetting conservatives and delighting women's rights activists.

Until now, only men or boys were formally allowed to take part in the service, in which a priest washes and kisses the feet of 12 people to commemorate Jesus' gesture of humility towards his apostles on the night before he died.

But in a letter to the Vatican department that regulates rites of worship, Francis said the group should be made up of "all members of the people of God," including women.

The ritual takes place in Catholic parishes around the world the world on Holy Thursday, four days before Easter. While some parishes in the 1.2 billion member Church had already included women and girls, most have stuck to the written rules, particularly in developing countries.

"This is great news, a wonderful step forward," said Erin Hanna, co-director of the U.S.-based Woman's Ordination Conference, which promotes a female Catholic priesthood.

"This means that change is possible, doors seem to be opening in the Vatican," she told Reuters.

Since his election in 2013, the pope has included women when he has...