Pope Leo XVI prayed publicly on Sunday for the victims of the shooting at a Catholic school in Minnesota and referred to as for an finish to the “pandemic of arms, giant and small.”
The U.S.-born pope spoke in English as he denounced the assault and the “logic of weapons” fueling wars around the globe, throughout his Sunday midday blessing from his studio overlooking St. Peter’s Sq. in Rome.
“Our prayers for the victims of the tragic taking pictures throughout a faculty Mass within the American state of Minnesota,” Leo stated. “We maintain in our prayers the numerous youngsters killed and injured day-after-day around the globe. Allow us to plead God to cease the pandemic of arms, giant and small, which infects our world.”
Two children – 8-year-old Fletcher Merkel and 10-year-old Harper Moysk – have been killed Wednesday, and 20 individuals have been injured throughout a taking pictures assault on the Church of Annunciation in Minneapolis, as a whole lot of scholars from the close by Annunciation Catholic Faculty and others gathered for a Mass marking the start of the varsity 12 months.
ALBERTO PIZZOLI/AFP through Getty Photographs
The shooter, who later died by suicide, fired 116 rifle rounds by way of the church’s stained-glass window.
Within the rapid aftermath of the taking pictures, Leo had kept away from any political commentary about weapons in America, sending a telegram of condolence that centered solely on the non secular. He expressed unhappiness over the “horrible tragedy” and prolonged his “heartfelt condolences and the reassurance of non secular closeness to all these affected.”
Leo had opened his attraction on Sunday by demanding a right away ceasefire in Ukraine and a “severe dedication to dialogue” from the warring sides.
“It is time that these accountable surrender the logic of weapons and take the trail of negotiations and peace, with the help of the worldwide neighborhood,” he stated. “The voice of weapons should be silenced, whereas the voice of fraternity and justice should rise.”
