Pope Leo reacts swiftly to first school shooting in US on his watch

Pope Leo XIV responded especially swiftly to news of the shooting at Annunciation Catholic School in the US city of Minneapolis, sending his condolences not just on the same day as the tragedy but a few hours after news began to break of the terrible events.

Papal telegrams reacting to such man-made calamities or natural disasters are usually issued a day after an event occurs. Pope Leo’s message on the shooting was sent during what was the afternoon in the Vatican on 27 August and not many hours – given the time difference between Italy and the US – after the shooting had occurred around 8:30 a.m. local time in the US.

The telegram, sent via Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin, states:

“To the Most Reverend Bernard Hebda, Archbishop of Saint Paul and Minneapolis:

His Holiness Pope Leo XIV was profoundly saddened to learn of the loss of life and injuries following the shooting that took place at Annunciation Church in Minneapolis, and he sends his heartfelt condolences and the assurance of spiritual closeness to all those affected by this terrible tragedy, especially the families now grieving the loss of a child.

"While commending the souls of the deceased children to the love of Almighty God, His Holiness prays for the wounded as well as the first responders, medical personnel and clergy who are caring for them and their loved ones.

"At this extremely difficult time, the Holy Father imparts to the Annunciation Catholic School community, the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis and the people of the greater Twin Cities metropolitan area his Apostolic Blessing as a pledge of peace, fortitude and consolation in the Lord Jesus.”

In addition to the shooting involving an attack on a Catholic school – which the FBI is investigating as a "hate crime targeting Catholics" – it marks the first mass shooting at a US school below university level to have occurred during the pontificate of Pope Leo, who is the first pope to have been born in the United States, growing up in Chicago.

It has been commented on that the telegram, though it came through Cardinal Parolin, may well have been written by the Pope himself, given the use of the terminology "Twin Cities metropolitan area", a label that would typically only be familiar to those who are from or who have lived in the US.

The two children killed during the shooting were aged eight and 10. Of the 17 injured, 14 were children, with up to seven children aged between six and 14 years old brought to hospital in critical condition and with four needing surgery. The three other individuals injured are reported to be adult worshippers in their 80s.

Based on the latest reports, as of the morning of 28 August, all of the injured are expected to survive, according to the Minneapolis police chief.

RELATED: Shooting at Catholic school during Mass leaves at least 3 dead and 17 injured

Photo: Pope Leo XIV delivers his blessing during the general audience in Paul VI Hall at the Vatican, 27 August 2025. (Photo by FILIPPO MONTEFORTE/AFP via Getty Images.)

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