Pope Leo XIV has expressed his profound sorrow upon learning of the loss of life and injuries following the shooting that took place at Annunciation Church in Minneapolis, Minnesota, in the US. In a telegram sent to Archbishop Bernard Hebda of Minneapolis, the Pope, expressed “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.”

The telegram, sent in the name of Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Secretary of State, continues, “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.”

A man identified as Robin Westman opened fire on worshippers gathered at the Annunciation Catholic Church in Minneapolis, the largest city of the state of Minnesota in the United States. The attack occurred at 8:30 in the morning local time during a back-to-school mass. The complex also houses a school attended by children from preschool to middle school.

In response to the shooting at Annunciation Catholic School in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Archbishop William E. Lori, vice-president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops issued a statement.

“As a Church, we are following the tragic news from Annunciation School in Minneapolis with heartbreaking sadness. Whenever one part of the Body of Christ is wounded, we feel the pain as if it were our very own children. Let us all beg the Lord for the protection and healing of the entire Annunciation family.”

Vatican News contributed to this report.