Pope Leo XIV Denounces ‘Pandemic of Arms’ After Deadly Minnesota School Shooting
Pope Leo XIV Denounces ‘Pandemic of Arms’ After Deadly Minnesota School Shooting
Pope Leo XIV publicly prayed for the victims of a tragic shooting at a Catholic school in Minnesota this past week, denouncing a global ‘pandemic of arms, large and small.’ Speaking from his studio overlooking St. Peter’s Square on Sunday, the U.S.-born pontiff condemned the attack and the ‘logic of weapons’ that he stated fuels conflicts worldwide.
‘Our prayers for the victims of the tragic shooting during a school Mass in the American state of Minnesota,’ Pope Leo XIV said, extending his thoughts to ‘the countless children killed and injured every day around the world.’ He passionately appealed for divine intervention to ‘stop the pandemic of arms, large and small, which infects our world.’
The devastating incident, which occurred on Wednesday at the Church of Annunciation in Minneapolis during a Mass marking the start of the school year, claimed the lives of 8-year-old Fletcher Merkel and 10-year-old Harper Moysk. Twenty others were injured when the assailant fired 116 rifle rounds through a stained-glass window before dying by suicide. The Pope had previously offered spiritual condolences following the ‘terrible tragedy,’ but Sunday marked his first direct political commentary on the issue of gun violence.
In the same address, Pope Leo XIV also called for an immediate ceasefire in Ukraine, urging warring sides to commit to dialogue and for the international community to support negotiations for peace. ‘The voice of weapons must be silenced, while the voice of fraternity and justice must rise,’ he asserted, reiterating his plea for those in power to abandon the ‘logic of weapons’ in favor of peace.
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