• Pope Leo XIV prayed for victims of a Minnesota school shooting, demanding an end to the "pandemic of arms."
• Two children were killed, and several others injured during the mass shooting at the Church of Annunciation.
• The Pope linked the incident to broader issues of arms proliferation and called for a ceasefire in Ukraine.

Pope Leo XIV publicly prayed for the victims of a shooting at a Catholic school in Minnesota during his Sunday blessing, demanding an immediate end to the "pandemic of arms, large and small." Speaking from St. Peter's Square, the pontiff expressed sorrow for the two children killed, 8-year-old Fletcher Merkel and 10-year-old Harper Moysk, along with the many injured, stating, "We hold in our prayers the countless children killed and injured every day around the world," according to CBS News, India Times, LA Times, and Newsweek.

The tragic shooting occurred Wednesday at the Church of Annunciation in Minneapolis where hundreds had gathered for a Mass, igniting a fierce debate over gun control in the United States. The shooter fired over 100 rounds, leading to renewed calls from gun control advocates for tighter regulations, while critics argue political responses often lack urgency, as noted by CBS News, India Times, LA Times, and Newsweek.

Pope Leo XIV, echoing sentiments of his predecessor Francis, condemned both the shooting and the broader "logic of weapons" fueling violent conflicts worldwide. He also urged for a ceasefire in Ukraine, emphasizing, "It’s time that those responsible renounce the logic of weapons and take the path of negotiations and peace," as reported by CBS News, India Times, LA Times, and Newsweek.