Castel Gandolfo: Continuing his summer retreat in the peaceful town of Castel Gandolfo, Pope Leo XIV celebrated Holy Mass on Tuesday at the Carabinieri headquarters, offering words of gratitude and encouragement to Italy’s national gendarmerie, who play a vital role in safeguarding the public particularly during the ongoing Jubilee Year in Rome.
The Mass was held in the chapel of the Villa dei Gesuiti, a property of the Holy See that serves multiple functions and currently houses the Carabinieri along with the Jesuit community and local residents. Among the congregation were Italy’s Defense Minister Guido Crosetto, General Commander Salvatore Luongo, and Archbishop Gian Franco Saba, the Military Ordinary of Italy.
In his homily, Pope Leo drew attention to the powerful Christian expression “brother and sister,” highlighting it as more than just a liturgical phrase rather, a living reminder of the kinship shared by all who do the will of God.
“When we love one another as God has loved us, we truly become brothers and sisters of Jesus,” the Pope declared. He explained that every relationship becomes sanctified through Christ, as the Holy Spirit dwells in hearts that practice genuine love.
The Pope also reflected on the unique spiritual role of Mary, whom Jesus entrusted to all humanity at the hour of His death. “She did not belong to Jesus alone,” he said. “At the Cross, He gave her to all of us. Mary is the first disciple she welcomed the Word with full faith and unwavering love.”
Recalling the Carabinieri Corps’ devotion to Mary as Virgo Fidelis, their patroness since 1949, Pope Leo praised their unwavering service and the moral integrity expected of them. He thanked them for their dedication in ensuring the safety of pilgrims flocking to Rome, calling their mission both “noble and demanding.”
In a strong pastoral message, he cautioned against cynicism in the face of injustice. “Never fall for the illusion that evil can prevail,” the Pope urged. “In times marked by war and disorder, answer wrongdoing not with despair, but with the strength of law and the light of honesty.” Following the Eucharistic celebration, Pope Leo paid a quiet visit to the Poor Clares’ Convent of the Immaculate Conception in nearby Albano. Inside the chapel, he paused to pray with the cloistered nuns before meeting them personally in the chapter room.
He praised their hidden lives of prayer and sacrifice, calling their vocation a “precious witness to the Church.” As a token of appreciation, he gifted the community a chalice and paten before returning to his residence in Castel Gandolfo. Through his message of unity, courage, and fidelity even in the face of suffering Pope Leo XIV once again reminded the faithful that evil never has the final word.