“I hope the Vatican’s official comments have made clear that the Pope is entitled to bend the rubrics, but that this effects no change in the duties of all other priests.”
You’ve got to be kidding. In other words, do what the Church says, not what I do.
We’re not talking about the Commandments or the Natural Law. We’re talking about the liturgy.
Obviously, the Pope thought there was a good reason to wash the feet of women. He has the authority to make such a judgment.
Just as obviously, this decision is fraught with risks—primarily the risk of encouraging what is, when done by others, illicit. Is it news that the Pope exercises authority that is not exercised by others?
There is a reason that Popes’ liturgies are traditionally models of formality and correctness—to avoid precisely the kind of misunderstanding—firestorm, even—that has followed the Pope’s Holy Thursday liturgy.
I think Fr. Z’s comments in the last few days—and the comments of Dr. Edward Peters—have been the most enlightening and balanced.