Pope Leo XIV called for the end of the “arm pandemic” as he made his first public comment about gun control while praying to victims of a shooting at a Minneapolis accused Catholic school.
The first American pope made a statement following the August 27 shooting, killing two children and injuring 18 people as students and staff gathered at school mass.
“Let’s plead with God to stop the big and small arm pandemic that infects our world,” the Chicago-born Pope told the crowds at St. Peters Square following Angelus’ prayers every Sunday.
Speaking in his native English, Leo said he offers “countless children” killed and wounded daily, “praying for the victims of a tragic shooting during mass at an American school in Minnesota.”
Leo’s predecessor, Pope Francis, frequently denounced the arms industry and warned that the use of guns by civilians has become a “must-do” to protect himself. Leo, who was elected in May, continues to condemn the “logic of weapons” and the arms trade, but declined to comment on gun control in a telegram sent shortly after the Minneapolis shooting.
But in the past, X-accounts that clearly appear to belong to Robert Prevast – before he is elected, before he is elected to Pope, calling for “access to mental health care and strong and wise gun control laws” after the 2017 shooting in Las Vegas.
He also shared a statement from Democratic Sen. Chris Murphy about the same incident:
Following the Minneapolis shooting, Cupicch, close to Leo, said, “The fact is clear: guns are abundant, and common sense attempts to limit their availability have been largely rejected in the name of freedom that cannot be found in our constitution.”
