Pope Leo XIV Calls for an End to the "Pandemic" of Weapons as He Prays for Minneapolis Shooting and All Child Victims in Appeal for Peace

 Pope Leo XIV on Sunday, August 31, after the Angelus, briefly spoke in English and mentioned the shooting in Minneapolis, praying for all child victims in the world, and called for an end to the "pandemic of arms" or weapons.
He made the following appeals:
Dear brothers and sisters,

Sadly, the war in Ukraine continues to sow death and destruction. Even in recent days, bombings have struck several cities, including the capital Kyiv, causing numerous casualties. I renew my closeness to the Ukrainian people and to all the injured families. I ask everyone not to give in to indifference, but to draw close to them through prayer and concrete gestures of charity. I strongly reiterate my urgent appeal for an immediate ceasefire and a serious commitment to dialogue. Now is the time for those responsible to renounce the logic of weapons and take the path of negotiation and peace, with the support of the international community. The voice of weapons must be silenced, while the voice of fraternity and justice must be raised.

Our prayers for the victims of the tragic shooting during a school Mass in the American State of Minnesota include the countless children killed and injured every day around the world. Let us plead God to stop the pandemic of arms, large and small, which infects our world. May our Mother Mary, the Queen of Peace, help us to fulfil the prophecy of Isaiah: “They shall beat their swords into ploughshares and their spears into pruning hooks” (Is 2:4).

Our hearts are also wounded by the more than fifty people who died and the one hundred or so still missing following the shipwreck of a boat carrying migrants attempting the 1100 km journey towards the Canary Islands, that capsized off the Atlantic coast of Mauritania. This deadly tragedy is repeated every day all over the world. Let us pray that the Lord will teach us, as individuals and societies, fully to put into practice his words: “I was a stranger and you welcomed me” (Mt 25:35).

We entrust all our injured, missing and dead, everywhere, to our Savior’s loving embrace.

Tomorrow, 1 September, is the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation. Ten years ago, in harmony with Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I, Pope Francis established this Day for the Catholic Church. This is more important and urgent than ever, and this year’s theme is “Seeds of Peace and Hope.” Together with all Christians, we celebrate it throughout this “Season of Creation”, which lasts until 4 October, the Feast of Saint Francis of Assisi. In the spirit of the Canticle of Brother Sun, which he composed 800 years ago, we praise God and renew our commitment not to ruin his gift but to care for our common home.

I extend my affectionate greeting to all of you, the faithful of Rome and pilgrims from Italy and various countries. In particular, I greet the parish groups from Quartu Sant’Elena, Morigerati, Venegono, Rezzato, Brescello, Boretto and Gualtieri, Val di Gresta, Valmadrera, Stiatico, Sortino and Casadio; together with the group of families from Lucca who traveled along the Via Francigena.

I also greet the Lay Fraternity of the Dimesse Sisters of Padua, the young people of Catholic Action and AGESCI of Reggio Calabria, the young people of Gorla Maggiore and the confirmandi of Castel San Pietro Terme; as well as the Shalom Movement of San Miniato with the Angiolo del Bravo Philharmonic, the “Note libere” Association of Taviano, and the “Genitori Orsenigo” group.

I wish all of you a happy Sunday!