Imagine the PR office at the detention facility answering journalists with
hundreds of questions, all trying to get an answer to whether or not any
females will be among the foot-washing group. For them to not get any
answer to that question means that the staff was thoroughly REHEARSED
on not answering any question that comes close to that. This was
planned.
You answer that question, you lose your job - that would do it.
The Telegraph reports that not only will there be non-Catholics there, but that most of the inmates are Muslims and Atheists!
Francis will begin the day with a solemn chrism mass in St. Peter's Basilica at 0830GMT, before travelling to the prison where he will hold the afternoon Lord's Supper mass with 35 male and 11 female offenders, aged from 14 to 21.
Most of the inmates at the institute are foreign-born and Muslim or atheist.
The 12 prisoners who will have their feet washed will be chosen from different nationalities and religious confessions. It is not clear whether any of the inmates chosen to take part in the washing ceremony are female.
While Bergoglio has washed women's feet in past ceremonies, traditionalists would be riled by such a gesture as they hold that the disciples were all male.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/religion/the-pope/9958352/Pope-Francis-to-wash-feet-of-young-offenders.html
As for the "chosen" part...
Notice how they will be chosen from different religions. Not that a Muslim incidentally participating in this ceremony would be much of an excuse, but there is an added heinousness in positively choosing a variety of non-believers to represent the apostles (as opposed to just negligently allowing 'anyone' or randomly choosing).
They could just say, "For many are called but few chosen" (Matt. xx. 16).
So it's biblical.
That's how Mahony got all the NovusOrdo churches in L.A. to change their
procedure for Communion, so that even today, the ushers stand guard in the
aisles and direct those in the vestibule to come forward to receive first, then
work their way up starting with the last pews in the back. Everyone is looking
over their shoulder to see what's going on behind them during Communion.
And not a few stragglers who had no intention of receiving Communion end
up coming forward, following the uninformed direction of the stupid ushers,
and many of those are not even Catholic. That's the story.
And the reason? "So shall the last be first, and the first last. For many are
called, but few chosen" (Matt. xx. 16).
Mahony voted in the conclave. And he was front row center at Francis' first
Newmass.