In a message filled with emotion and determination, Pope Leo XIV issued an urgent call to end what he described as a “pandemic of arms, large and small”, in response to the school shooting in Minneapolis that left several dead and dozens injured. Speaking from the Vatican, the pontiff asked for prayers for the affected families and urged both authorities and society to reflect on the ease with which weapons circulate throughout the world.
The Pope, the first U.S.-born pontiff, delivered his remarks in English during the Sunday Angelus prayer. In his address, he stated that “the logic of weapons never brings peace, only more suffering and pain,” and invited the faithful to commit to building safe communities free of violence.
The attack in Minneapolis has reignited a heated debate over school safety and the urgent need to adopt stronger measures to curb gun violence. Local and national leaders have echoed the Pope’s words, stressing that condolences alone are not enough and that concrete action is required.
Can the Pope’s message have a real impact on the gun debate in the United States?
While it does not guarantee immediate changes in legislation, the Pope’s voice carries moral and spiritual weight that can influence public conscience. His call may inspire religious and civic communities to demand more effective solutions to stop gun violence.
