In the early hours ahead of the annual Red Mass, law enforcement arrested 41-year-old Louis Geri of Vineland, New Jersey, on the steps of St. Matthew’s Cathedral, after detecting what officials say was a cache of “fully functional” explosive devices, according to Washington Post.
The Red Mass, traditionally held on the Sunday before the first Monday in October, marks the opening of the Supreme Court’s term and seeks divine blessing for those who administer justice, according to Catholic Review. In this instance, the threat was serious enough that no Supreme Court justices attended the Mass.
What Authorities Say
The Arrest and Devices
According to Metropolitan Police and court filings, Geri had erected a tent on the Cathedral’s steps early Sunday morning while security preparations were underway. He had previously been barred from the cathedral grounds. When officers approached and asked him to vacate, he refused, prompting a bomb squad and arson investigators to examine the scene.
Authorities say they uncovered 200 incendiary devices, including “handmade grenades, bottle rockets, Molotov cocktails and vials of nitromethane”; the same compound used in the Oklahoma City bombing, according to Catholic Review. Some devices were described as modified bottle rockets with aluminum-foil heads; others, “grenades that use rubber bands to secure the fuse.” Geri reportedly threatened to detonate them and handed over pages from a notebook professing hatred toward the Catholic Church, Jewish people, ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement), and Supreme Court justices.
Eventually, he was arrested after briefly stepping away from his tent (to relieve himself), at which point officers subdued him and found at least one explosive device on his person.
Charges Brought
Geri faces multiple charges, including the manufacture or possession of a weapon of mass destruction in furtherance of a hate crime. Additional, preliminary charges include unlawful entry, threats to kidnap or injure, and possession of a Molotov cocktail, according to ABC News.
Interpretations and Implications for the Church
A Potential Targeting of Faith and Institution
That such a violent threat would coincide with a liturgical event underscores the dangerous intersection of religious identity and public office. While authorities have not publicly confirmed that Geri aimed specifically to kill Supreme Court justices that day, his notebook’s statements make clear a simultaneous hatred of the Church and the judiciary.
In recent years the Church has already been targeted in incidents of arson, vandalism, and vandalistic threats elsewhere. This event, however, is on another scale: it implicates both spiritual and civic pillars.
The Red Mass’s Symbolic Weight
The Red Mass is more than ritual; it is a public act of union—between the religious vocation of believers and the temporal vocation of justices, lawyers, and civic leaders. The intention is to begin judicial work under divine guidance and humility. To see it weaponized as a backdrop for violence is a desecration of that symbolism.
The Challenge to Security and Faith
This incident forces the Church, particularly in urban, high-profile settings, to reexamine security protocols. Churches must balance their open-door mission with prudence in a climate of increasing ideological violence. At the same time, believers must guard against fear, remembering that Christian witness is inherently vulnerable.
A Call to Prayer, Vigilance, and Solidarity
To Catholics, both in Washington and across the nation, this ought to prompt heartfelt prayer for those who safeguard our civic and religious institutions. Let us pray:
- For justice and peace, that the Almighty would protect those who resolve disputes and uphold the common good;
- For Church leaders and congregations, that wisdom and charity guide their response;
- For healing in a fractious society, that hatred not prevail;
- And for conversion of hearts, even of those consumed by malice.
In the face of threats like this, the faithful must not succumb to fear or reactivity. The Church’s witness is not diminished by danger; it is purified by it. May we remain vigilant, grounded in prayer, and committed to charity even in the shadows of conflict.
Your support brings the truth to the world.
Catholic Online News exists because of donors like you. We are 100% funded by people who believe the world deserves real, uncensored news rooted in faith and truth — not corporate agendas. Your gift ensures millions can continue to access the news they can trust — stories that defend life, faith, family, and freedom.
When truth is silenced, your support speaks louder.
