Man charged with explosives ahead of Supreme Court term Mass

In Washington, D.C. on Sunday, October 5, 2025, police arrested a man named Louis Geri outside the Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle, where a high-profile Mass known as the Red Mass was scheduled to take place later in the day. The Red Mass is traditionally held to invoke blessings for those involved in administering justice and marks the beginning of the U.S. Supreme Court's term. Officers approached Geri as he had set up a tent and refused to leave, despite prior restrictions barring him from the church premises. Upon inspection, they discovered several suspicious items, including a Molotov cocktail and vials of liquid, raising serious safety concerns. Geri was subsequently charged with unlawful entry, threats to kidnap or injure a person, and possession of explosives as police teamed up with federal agencies to investigate the incident further. His intentions at the church and the motive for bringing such items remain unclear, contributing to an ongoing wave of concern regarding threats and violence against judicial officials, particularly following recent escalations in political discourse that have led to increased tensions and tragic incidents in the country. Furthermore, the Supreme Court has noted a rise in threats against justices, particularly in light of controversial decisions that have polarized opinion in America, highlighting the urgent need for dialogue and understanding amidst a climate of fear and animosity. Cardinal Robert McElroy, during the Mass, called for a reduction in political confrontations and pointed to the detrimental effects of inflammatory rhetoric, underscoring the growing fears surrounding the safety of judicial figures and a society grappling with instability and division.