
Pope Leo XIV on Sunday called for an end to the gun pandemic as he prayed for the many children killed by guns and conflicts around the world.
The American pontiff repeated his calls after praying this Sunday at the Vatican for a cessation of the war in Ukraine, following the Russian attack on Kyiv on Thursday, in which at least 25 people, including four children, lost their lives.
He also mentioned the recent attack during a mass at a school in Minnesota, USA, where two children were killed.
"We include in our prayers the children killed and injured every day around the world. Let us pray that God will stop the pandemic of weapons, large and small, infecting our world."
He stressed that the world should not succumb to indifference and renewed the call for an immediate ceasefire and a serious commitment to dialogue.
"It is time for those responsible to abandon the logic of weapons and follow the path of negotiation and peace, with the support of the international community."