Vatican – September 1, 2025
In a powerful and emotional address, Pope Leo XIV has called for an end to the “pandemic of arms,” a plea that follows a devastating mass shooting at a Catholic school in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The attack, which took place during a school-wide Mass, killed two children and injured over a dozen others, sending shockwaves through the community and the global Catholic Church. Pope Leo, the first U.S.-born pontiff, used his platform to denounce the “logic of weapons” and the “shameful and culpable silence” that allows such tragedies to continue, echoing similar sentiments expressed by his predecessor, Pope Francis.
Headlines:
* A Pontiff’s Plea: Pope Leo Calls for End to Gun Violence After School Shooting.
* Heartbreak in Minnesota: Tragedy at Annunciation Catholic School Claims Lives of Two Children.
* Condemnation from the Vatican: Pope Leo Links Gun Violence to Global Arms Trade.
* A “Pandemic of Arms”: Pope Urges for a Ceasefire in Ukraine and an End to the “Logic of Weapons.”
The shooting at Annunciation Catholic Church in Minneapolis occurred on August 27, 2025, during the first week of classes. A lone gunman, identified by police as Robin Westman, opened fire from outside the church, shooting through the stained-glass windows at students and worshippers. Two children, an 8-year-old and a 10-year-old, were killed, and 21 others, mostly children, were injured before the shooter died by suicide. The tragedy has renewed the heated debate over gun violence in the United States and has drawn condemnation from spiritual leaders worldwide.
Speaking in English from his study overlooking St. Peter’s Square, Pope Leo XIV—who was born in Chicago, Illinois—prayed for the victims and their families. “Let us plead God to stop the pandemic of arms, large and small, which infects our world,” he said, linking the domestic tragedy to the wider issue of global conflicts. This was a notable shift from his initial response, which was a more traditional telegram of condolence. His remarks this time went further, calling for an immediate ceasefire in Ukraine and a commitment to dialogue to silence the “voice of weapons.”
The Pope’s comments resonated with many, but also highlighted a divide within the U.S. Catholic Church, where some bishops have been hesitant to engage in the political debate on gun control. However, archbishops in cities like Chicago and Detroit have been more vocal, calling for stronger gun laws. This tragic event has prompted a more direct intervention from the Vatican, using the powerful symbolism of a U.S.-born Pope to speak to a deeply personal and political issue in his home country.
The call for an end to the “pandemic of arms” is a powerful reminder of the Church’s long-standing teachings on social justice and peace. It underscores the belief that the arms trade, driven by greed and profit, fuels violence both on battlefields and in communities. As the world mourns the loss of the two young children in Minneapolis, Pope Leo’s words serve as a stark reminder of the global nature of this crisis and the urgent need for a collective moral response.
