With reference to the distinction made by Jesus to Peter between the washing of the feet and the bath, the Pope comments: "It seems clear that the bath that finally cleanses us and must not be repeated is Baptism", while the "washing of the feet" which "we often need" is the "confession of the sins". "To be able to partake of the convivial community with Jesus Christ states Benedict XVI , we must be sincere. We must admit that, even in our new identity as baptised people, we sin. We need confession as it has taken shape in the Sacrament of Reconciliation". According to the Pontiff, "we must wash each other’s feet in the daily mutual service of love" as well as "in the sense that we forgive each other over and over again. The debt that the Lord remitted us is always infinitely greater than any debt anyone may owe us". "This is concluded the Pope what Maundy Thursday exhorts us to do: not to let our grudge for others become, in our heart of hearts a poisoning of the soul. It exhorts us to cleanse our memory all the time, forgiving each other with all our hearts, washing each other’s feet, so as to be able to go together to God’s banquet".
