When a Roman Catholic leader came up to Christian evangelist Lou Engle of The Call and offered to "kiss his feet" to show unity between Christians and Catholics, Engle agreed and later also got down on his knee to kiss the Catholic leader's shoe.
The act took place during "Azusa Now," a 15-hour prayer event hosted by The Call, which was attended by over 100,000 people at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on Saturday, Christian News reports.
Engle specifically invited Roman Catholics to the event because he wanted to bring all followers of Christ together "for the purpose of unity, miracles, healing, and the proclamation of the gospel."
Catholic leader Matteo Calisi, who was appointed by Pope Benedict XVI to serve on the Pontifical Council for the Laity, said during the event that the division between Christians and Catholics is a "diabolical sin," and that Jesus "doesn't care" that Christians and Catholics disagree on biblical doctrine.
"He doesn't care about our differences," he said. "We're not going to be known by our differences, but for the love we have for one another."
He later offered to kiss Engle's foot, and Engle later returned the favour. Others gathered around and laid hands on them as they broke the "spirit of division."
There were some who praised the gesture as a "tender moment," but many others were concerned by what Engle and Calisi did.
"What's up with Lou Engle letting the representative of the Catholic Church kiss his feet because it would logistically be impossible to wash his feet?" a man from Brazil commented. "I seem to remember John falling at the feet of an angel... and the angel freaked out! He yanked John up onto his feet and admonished him for doing so. Worship God!!!"
Engle was also accused of "false teachings and practices," and people told him to stop with his "malarkey."
