Overview

• Pope Leo XIV prayed for victims of the August 27 shooting at a Minnesota Catholic school that reportedly killed two children.
• He delivered his Sunday blessing in English from his studio overlooking St. Peter’s Square, an uncommon choice for his public addresses.
• He urged an end to the “logic of weapons” and called for a culture of fraternity in response to gun violence.
• News agencies highlighted the rarity of the English remarks from a pope who typically avoids off‑the‑cuff interventions.
• The Vatican announced no policy measures alongside the appeal, which was framed as a pastoral and ethical message.