Pope Francis spent Holy Thursday visiting those serving time in a Rome prison, writes Fox News.

Despite recovering from a bout of pneumonia, Francis met with dozens of inmates at Regina Coeli prison as he kept an Easter season appointment among the less fortunate.

Francis offered words of encouragement and gifted inmates with a Rosary and pocket-sized Gospel, according to Vatican News.

"I have always liked coming to prison on Holy Thursday to do the washing of the feet like Jesus. This year, I cannot do it, but I want to be close to you. I pray for you and your families", - the pontiff said.

Francis` visit lasted about half an hour. "Every time I enter a place like this, I ask myself: Why them and not me?" Francis said to journalists outside the prison.