Pope Leo XIV celebrates Mass in the chapel of the Carabinieri's headquarters in Castel Gandolfo (@Vatican Media)
Pope at Mass: Never believe that evil can prevail, even
amid injustices
Pope Leo XIV celebrates Mass at the headquarters of the Carabinieri
in Castel Gandolfo, and expresses his gratitude for the Italian gendarmerie’s
efforts to protect pilgrims visiting Rome during the Jubilee Year.
By Devin Watkins
As he continued his summer holidays in Castel Gandolfo on
Tuesday, Pope Leo XIV presided at Mass in the chapel of the Carabinieri
headquarters in the hilltop town near Rome.
The headquarters are located in the Villa dei Gesuiti
(“Jesuits’ House”), which is owned by the Holy See and leased to the
Carabinieri, the Jesuits, and local residents.
The Carabinieri are the national gendarmerie of Italy, a
form of military police who fall under the authority of the Italian Armed
Forces and whose responsibilities include inland public order and security.
Italy’s Minister of Defense, Guido Crosetto, and the General
Commander of the Carabinieri, Salvatore Luongo, attended the Mass in Castel
Gandolfo, along with Archbishop Gian Franco Saba, Archbishop of Italy for the
Military.
Brothers and sisters in Christ
In his homily, Pope Leo focused on the Christian greeting of
“brother and sister,” which he said represent relationships repeated as signs
of closeness and affection in the liturgy.
“We are all truly brothers and sisters of Jesus when we do
the will of God, that is, when we live by loving one another as God has loved
us,” he said.
Every relationship, continued the Pope, becomes a gift in
Jesus, since He sends the Holy Spirit to dwell in our hearts when we love one
another.
“God’s love is so great,” he said, “that Jesus does not keep
even His mother for Himself, entrusting Mary as our mother at the hour of the
cross.”
The Pope noted that Mary is considered the first disciple
because she first welcomed the word of God into her heart with love and
faithfulness.
Pope Leo poses for a
group photo (@Vatican Media)
Fidelity in times of trial
He recalled that the Carabinieri recently celebrated the
75th anniversary of the proclamation of the Faithful Virgin (Virgo Fidelis)
as Patroness of the Carabinieri Corps.
In the wake of the Second World War, the Carabinieri looked
to Mary’s faithfulness as a model of every officer’s fidelity to the Italian
people and nation, said the Pope.
Pope Leo then expressed his gratitude to the Carabinieri for
their “noble and demanding service” to the Italian people and for protecting
the millions of pilgrims visiting Rome.
“In the face of injustices that wound the social order, do
not yield to the temptation to think that evil can prevail,” he said.
“Especially in this time of wars and violence, remain faithful to your oath: as
servants of the State, answer crime with the force of law and honesty.”
The Poor Clares
welcome the Pope to their convent in Albano (@Vatican Media)
Visit ot Poor Clares’ Convent in Albano
After the Mass, Pope Leo XIV made a brief visit to the
Immaculate Conception Convent of the Poor Clares in Albano, where he took a
moment to pray with the cloistered nuns in the chapel.
He then greeted the religious sisters and spoke with them in
the chapter hall.
“It is good that the Church knows your life,” for it is a
precious testimony, said Pope Leo, before gifting them a chalice and paten and
returning to Castel Gandolfo.
Pope Leo prays with
the Poor Clares in their convent chapel in Albano (@Vatican Media)
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