“Pope Leo XIV celebrated Mass on July 15 at the chapel of the police (carabinieri) headquarters in Castel Gandolfo, near the summer papal residence.
The Pontiff praised the “noble and demanding service” of the carabinieri, and encouraged them: “In the face of injustices that wound the social order, do not yield to the temptation to think that evil can prevail.”
The Pope celebrated the Mass in the ad orientem posture, facing the altar of the chapel.
Later in the day the Pope visited a Poor Clare convent in the nearby town of Albano, joining the cloistered nuns in prayer.” Catholic World News
Many Catholics on X joyfully reacted to this significant way of Pope Leo XIV celebrating Holy Mass, after years of experiencing strict restrictions on the Traditional Latin Mass.
Catholics For Catholic wrote: “Thank you Holy Father for this act of reverence! What is the meaning of AD ORIENTEM? It symbolizes the priest and congregation facing together towards God, as they would toward the rising sun, symbolizing Christ. It emphasizes the communal aspect of worship and the priest’s role as a leader in prayer, guiding the faithful toward God.”
Thank you Holy Father @Pontifex for this act of reverence!
What is the meaning of AD ORIENTEM?
It symbolizes the priest and congregation facing together towards God, as they would toward the rising sun, symbolizing Christ. It emphasizes the communal aspect of worship and the… https://t.co/TP21psQde7— Catholics for Catholics 🇺🇲 (@CforCatholics) July 15, 2025
Raymond Arroyo, Catholic journalist tweeted: “Pope Leo celebrated Mass ad Orientem- facing East- this morning at the Papal Summer residence. At a moment when bishops are trying to outlaw the ancient posture- such natural moments take on larger significance.”
Pope Leo celebrated Mass ad Orientem- facing East- this morning at the Papal Summer residence. At a moment when bishops are trying to outlaw the ancient posture- such natural moments take on larger significance. pic.twitter.com/IOmkckTRdK
— Raymond Arroyo (@RaymondArroyo) July 15, 2025
Many find hope in seeing the Holy Father celebrating Mass Ad Orientem, specially after a recent exclusive article by journalist Diane Montagna in which she published an official Vatican report that exposes evidence contrary to what Pope Francis used in July 2021 to justify changes in the Traditional liturgy.
“When, on July 16, 2021, Pope Francis promulgated Traditionis Custodes, he said the responses to the questionnaire “reveal a situation that worries and saddens me and persuades me of the need to intervene.”
It continues “the official CDF report states that “the majority of bishops who responded to the questionnaire, and who have generously and intelligently implemented Summorum Pontificum, ultimately express satisfaction with it.” It adds that “in places where the clergy have closely cooperated with the bishop, the situation has become completely pacified.
…the overall assessment directly contradicts, therefore, the stated rationale for imposing Traditionis Custodes and raises serious questions about its credibility.” reported Montagna
Although Vatican spokesman downplayed this scandal by saying that he couldn’t confirm the authenticity of the texts that had been published, Catholics advocating for the restoration of the Traditional Mass are hopeful that Pope Leo XIV will review and potentially repeal Traditionis Custodes, thus removing the arbitrary restrictions imposed on the TLM by Pope Francis.
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