VATICAN CITY — Pope Leo XIV, in a public address on Sunday, called for an end to the "pandemic of weapons" after a tragic shooting at a Catholic school in the United States. Speaking from the Apostolic Palace overlooking St. Peter's Square, the Pontiff offered prayers for the victims and strongly condemned the "logic of weapons" that fuels violence globally.

"We pray for the victims of the tragic shooting at a school Mass in Minnesota, United States," the Pope stated, "and we embrace in our prayers the countless children who are killed and wounded every day throughout the world." He urged the faithful to "implore God to stop this pandemic of big and small weapons that is infecting the world."

The Pope's comments came after a recent shooting at a Catholic school in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on August 27, where a gunman killed two children and wounded 17 others. While he initially offered condolences for the "terrible event," his latest message marked a more direct criticism of gun proliferation.

In addition to addressing the U.S. shooting, Pope Leo XIV also urged Russia and Ukraine to engage in "serious dialogue." He emphasized that "it is time for those responsible to abandon the logic of weapons and move toward a path of negotiation and peace with the support of the international community." The Pontiff insisted that "the voice of weapons must be silenced, and the voice of fraternity and justice must be raised."

Meanwhile, President Donald Trump, in a recent interview with the conservative media outlet The Daily Caller, expressed doubt about the possibility of a bilateral meeting between Russia and Ukraine. He suggested that a trilateral summit involving the U.S. would be more likely. Trump admitted his disappointment with the slow progress of peace negotiations, stating, "I really thought we were going to get this done, but they might have to fight a little bit longer. It's foolish; they just keep fighting."

This stance contrasts with Trump's earlier confident remarks on August 18, when he met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and European leaders, suggesting that a meeting between the two warring nations could happen within two weeks.

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