Pope Leo XVI prayed publicly on Sunday for the victims of the capturing at a Catholic faculty in Minnesota and known 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 capturing throughout a college Mass within the American state of Minnesota,” Leo mentioned. “We maintain in our prayers the numerous kids killed and injured day by day around the globe. Allow us to plead God to cease the pandemic of arms, giant and small, which infects our world.”
Two kids – 8-year-old Fletcher Merkel and 10-year-old Harper Moysk – have been killed Wednesday, and 20 folks have been injured throughout a capturing assault on the Church of Annunciation in Minneapolis, as tons of of scholars from the close by Annunciation Catholic Faculty and others gathered for a Mass marking the start of the college 12 months.
ALBERTO PIZZOLI/AFP by way of Getty Pictures 
The shooter, who later died by suicide, fired 116 rifle rounds by the church’s stained-glass window.
Within the rapid aftermath of the capturing, Leo had shunned any political commentary about weapons in America, sending a telegram of condolence that centered completely on the non secular. He expressed disappointment over the “horrible tragedy” and prolonged his “heartfelt condolences and the reassurance of non secular closeness to all these affected.”
Leo had opened his enchantment on Sunday by demanding an instantaneous ceasefire in Ukraine and a “critical 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 assist of the worldwide group,” he mentioned. “The voice of weapons should be silenced, whereas the voice of fraternity and justice should rise.”
