ROME, ITALY – Pope Francis on Sunday expressed his spiritual closeness to the victims, wounded, and families who were deeply affected by the three recent mass shootings in the United States.
Following the Angelus in St. Peter’s Square, the Pope offered his prayers following the spate of mass killing, condemning the acts of violence on “defenseless people.”
“I am spiritually close to the victims of the violent episodes which in these days has bloodied Texas, California, and Ohio in the United States, striking defenseless people,” the pope said Aug. 4, inviting Catholics “to unite with me in my prayer for those who have lost their lives, for the wounded, and for their families.”
Pope Francis reportedly led the crowd of thousands in reciting a Hail Mary for the victims. Also in his remarks after the Marian Prayer, the Pope recalled the 160th anniversary of the death of the saintly Curé d’Ars, St John Vianney. Pope Francis described him as a model of goodness and charity for all priests.
The condolences came hours after a mass shooting in El Paso, Texas left 20 people dead and an additional 26 injured at Walmart Supercenter at the Cielo Vista Mall. Authorities identified the shooter as Patrick Crusius, 21, and currently residing in Allen, Texas.
Hours after the El Paso incident, another mass shooting took place at a popular downtown area in Dayton, Ohio where it claimed the lives of 10 people, including the shooter, and at least 16 victims injured.
A week before these two incidents, a mass shooting also took place in a garlic festival at Gilroy, California where it took the lives of three and several people injured.
On this significant occasion the Pope said he “wanted to send a letter to priests throughout the world, to encourage them in fidelity to the mission to which the Lord has called them.”
He added, “may the witness of this humble parish priest, totally dedicated to his people, help to rediscover the beauty and importance of the ministerial priesthood in contemporary society.”
