Pope Leo XIV, the first U.S.-born pontiff, denounced the global “pandemic of arms, large and small” during his Sunday noon blessing from his studio overlooking St. Peter’s Square in Vatican City. Speaking in English, the Chicago native called for an end to the “logic of weapons” and advocated for a culture of fraternity, specifically addressing a tragic shooting at the Church of Annunciation in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

The attack occurred during a Mass attended by hundreds of students from the nearby Annunciation Catholic School and others, resulting in the deaths of two children and injuries to 20 people. The shooter fired 116 rifle rounds through the church’s stained-glass windows before dying by suicide.

Pope Leo XIV expressed profound sorrow, stating, “Our prayers for the victims of the tragic shooting during a school Mass in the American state of Minnesota. We hold in our prayers the countless children killed and injured every day around the world.”

In the immediate aftermath, the Pope had sent a telegram of condolence, avoiding political commentary on gun issues and focusing on spiritual support. He conveyed his “heartfelt condolences and the assurance of spiritual closeness to all those affected” by the “terrible tragedy.”

His latest remarks underscore a broader plea to curb the proliferation of weapons globally, emphasizing peace and solidarity.

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