Pope Leo urges end to "pandemic of arms" after Minnesota shooting

Pope Leo XIV offered his prayers for the Minneapolis Catholic school shooting victims and called for an end to the "pandemic of arms, large and small" on Sunday.What he's saying: "Our prayers for the victims of the tragic shooting during a school Mass in the American state of Minnesota," said the first U.S. pontiff during a weekly prayer with crowds in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican."We hold in our prayers the countless children killed and injured every day around the world," added the Chicago-born pope, who was speaking in English."Let us plead God to stop the pandemic of arms, large and small, which infects our world."The big picture: Leo initially avoided weighing into politics in regards to the shooting that killed Fletcher Merkel, 8, and Harper Moyski, 10, and injured 18 other worshippers, when he sent a telegram offering "heartfelt condolences and the assurance of spiritual closeness to all those affected."On Sunday, the pope began his plea by calling for an immediate ceasefire in the Russia-Ukraine war and for both sides to make a "serious commitment to dialogue."He added, "The voice of weapons must fall silent, and the voice of fraternity and justice must prevail."Of note: Leo's predecessor, Pope Francis, was a vocal opponent of guns and once denounced weapons manufacturers as "merchants of death."Go deeper: Pope Leo's tall task: Healing Catholic America's political divide

Comments

World news

Florida attorney general says cops should stop enforcing open carry gun ban after court ruling

Independent

Comments

Similar News

Pope tells young crowd at huge canonisation of Gen Z's first saint 'Make your lives a masterpiece' as London-born Carlo Acutis's proud family look on

Pope Leo declares London-born teenager the first millennial saint

Pope Leo XIV makes Carlos Acutis, nicknamed ‘God’s influencer,’ the first millennial saint

Carlo Acutis, ‘God’s influencer’, declared first millennial saint by Pope Leo at canonisation mass

Carlo Acutis, ‘God’s influencer’ who died aged 15, declared a saint by Pope Leo

Pope Leo XIV Declares Two Saints, Including Carlo Acutis

Pope makes London-born teen Carlo Acutis the world’s first millennial saint

Pope Leo XIV declares 15-year-old computer whiz, known as God's influencer, a saint

Brit teen Carlo Acutis pronounced saint by Pope Leo as thousands attend ceremony

Pope Leo set to canonize Carlo Acutis, the teen deemed ‘God’s Influencer’

L.G.B.T.Q. Catholics Have Jubilee With Pope’s Blessing, if Not His Presence

Pope prepares to canonise London-born teenager nicknamed ‘God’s influencer’

Pope feeds fish as he explores the Vatican’s new eco-friendly farm

LGBTQ+ pilgrimage to Rome could test Pope Leo on gay Catholics

Pope Leo raises ‘tragic situation in Gaza’ during meeting with Israeli president

Pope hints at surprise liberal stance on LGBT issues after meeting with prominent US advocate: ‘It was wonderful’

Pope Leo meets LGBTQ+ Catholic advocate, vows continuity with Pope Francis' legacy

Pope Leo vows continuity with Pope Francis’ legacy of LGBTQ+ inclusion

Meeting with Pope Leo was ‘encouraging,’ says LGBTQ+ Catholic activist

Pope demands end to the ‘pandemic of arms’ as he prays for victims of Minnesota school shooting

World news

Florida attorney general says cops should stop enforcing open carry gun ban after court ruling

Russia shows off conventional and nuclear military might in drills — and raises tensions with NATO

Tyson Foods to eliminate high-fructose corn syrup in brands like Jimmy Dean and Hillshire Farm

A new Ebola outbreak has been declared. Here’s what we know

Luigi Mangione due in court amid double jeopardy fight in UnitedHealthcare CEO’s killing

How hands-off investing could have made you six times more than saving this year

‘I fought in Afghanistan but faulty earplugs left me with physical and mental scars’

Birmingham City and the battle of ambition vs tradition

I’m a first-time buyer – why does being self-employed mean I can borrow less?

Canada’s friendly seafood capital with a road trip and vineyards nearby

Sorry book snobs – Richard Osman’s The Impossible Fortune is a delight

Trump’s Tariffs Start to Bite in Vietnam

ADHD and bipolar patients face medicine delays – even when drugs are in stock

My Man Utd XI to save Amorim’s job – with three major changes

Please stop suggesting a date night – I’d rather you unblock the drain

DWP imposes ‘gagging order’ on disability experts ahead of PIP review

"Not welcome": Rubio says U.S. is deporting visa holders who celebrated Kirk's death

What to know about the US deportations to non-citizen African countries

Photos show how an Indonesian motorbike mechanic became a macaw trainer

Polls open in Malawi’s presidential and parliamentary elections

Trump World’s Deals With the U.A.E.

‘Squid Game’ Star Lee Jung-jae Talks About Korean Fan Culture

President Trump’s State Visit to the UK: What to Know

National park to remove exhibit of famed photograph showing former slave’s scarred back, says report

Ukraine-Russia war latest: Poland asks Nato to impose no-fly zone over Ukraine to stop Putin’s drone incursions

Drills in Belarus and drone incursions into Romania: How the war in Ukraine has already become a European conflict

E-bike battery fire displaces 11 people from Vancouver home

Drought level in the Okanagan increases under new provincial system

Brit tourist 'puts men to shame' in Benidorm with astonishing record break

'Tinder Swindler' con artist arrested in Georgia

Senate clears Trump pick Miran to Fed board ahead of key interest rate vote

Court stops Trump’s attempt to fire Fed Board Governor Lisa Cook

Wellington Bridge closure worries small business owners in west-central Edmonton

Recreate our favourite beauty looks from TIFF 2025

Lethbridge first responders celebrate 1 year of youth initiative

Bridgeland business speaks out about street being ripped up 3 times in a year

Alberta takes teachers’ union to labour board over accusations of false claims

Schwarzenegger decries polarization, criticizes Newsom's gerrymandering effort

Face-to-face with Zelenskyy, his frustration is clear

Zelenskyy makes demand of Trump - and issues warning to NATO

Republicans dare Democrats on avoiding government shutdown

Trump nominee Miran confirmed to Fed ahead of rate decision

Scoop: A group of House Democrats has a steep demand list to stop a shutdown

Republicans scramble to kick Ilhan Omar off committees over her Charlie Kirk comments

SEC "prioritizing" Trump bid to change public company reporting rules

Thousands flagged to face "consequences" for cheering Charlie Kirk's death

Appeals court rules Fed governor Cook can continue to serve

Queer advocacy group asks mayor, council to declare Calgary a sanctuary city

California man steals ambulance from paramedics attending fatal stabbing near high school, say cops

As Charlie Kirk crisscrossed the country, security levels varied from venue to venue

Elon Musk piggybacks Tommy Robinson and brings his troll show to Britain after being banished from the White House

SC lawmaker wants to pull funding from major college over three faculty members’ alleged Charlie Kirk comments

Trump hints at how he could arrest flag burners despite free speech protections

Lone survivor of East Vancouver triple stabbing dies in hospital

Trump deploys U.S. troops to Memphis in ‘replica’ of D.C. crime crackdown

Saskatchewan family demands action after 2-year-long murder investigation

Israel, U.S. show unity as other allies condemn attack on Qatar