Pope Leo XIV on Sunday referred to as for an finish to the “pandemic of arms, massive and small,” as he prayed publicly for the victims of a capturing throughout a Catholic faculty Mass in the United States.
Historical past’s first U.S. pope spoke in English as he denounced the assault and the “logic of weapons” fueling wars round the world, throughout his Sunday midday blessing from his studio overlooking St. Peter’s Sq..
“Our prayers for the victims of the tragic capturing throughout a faculty Mass in the American state of Minnesota,” stated the Chicago-born Leo. “We maintain in our prayers the numerous kids killed and injured every single day round the world. Allow us to plead God to cease the pandemic of arms, massive and small, which infects our world.”
Two kids have been killed Wednesday and 20 individuals have been injured throughout the capturing assault at the Church of Annunciation in Minneapolis, as lots of of college students from the close by Annunciation Catholic College and others gathered for a Mass.
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The shooter fired 116 rifle rounds by way of the church’s stained-glass home windows, and later died by suicide.
The assault as soon as once more reignited the debate over weapons in America. Those that help stricter background checks on gun purchases and different legal guidelines, usually Democrats, say that Republican politicians who enchantment to “ideas and prayers” after faculty shootings try to distract from their very own inaction on gun restrictions.
In the quick aftermath of the capturing, Leo had kept away from any political commentary about weapons in America, sending a telegram of condolence that targeted completely on the religious.
He stated he was saddened by the “horrible tragedy” and despatched his “heartfelt condolences and the assurance of religious closeness to all these affected.”
Leo’s predecessor, Pope Francis, had lengthy railed towards the weapons trade and proliferation of arms fueling wars, denouncing gun producers as “retailers of demise.”
Throughout his historic 2015 speech to the U.S. Congress, the Argentine pope requested the lawmakers why weapons have been being offered purely to kill.
“Sadly, the reply, as everyone knows, is just for cash: cash that’s drenched in blood, usually harmless blood,” Francis stated then. “In the face of this shameful and culpable silence, it’s our responsibility to confront the drawback and to cease the arms commerce.”
Leo had opened his enchantment Sunday by demanding a right away ceasefire in Ukraine and a “severe dedication to dialogue” from the warring sides.
“It’s time that these accountable surrender the logic of weapons and take the path of negotiations and peace, with the help of the worldwide neighborhood,” he stated. “The voice of weapons have to be silenced, whereas the voice of fraternity and justice should rise.”
© 2025 The Canadian Press
