Following the murder of conservative activist Charlie Kirk in Utah last week, Pope Leo XIV informed the new U.S. Ambassador to the Holy See, Brian Burch, that he is praying for Kirk, his wife, and their children, according to the Vatican on Tuesday.
Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni stated that Leo XIV also voiced concerns regarding political violence and emphasized the importance of avoiding “rhetoric and exploitation that lead to polarization rather than dialogue,” as reported by Vatican News.
The Pope’s comments were made on Saturday during a meeting with the ambassador to accept his credentials, marking their first encounter.
“The pope confirmed that he is praying for Charlie Kirk,” Bruni stated.
Kirk, the 31-year-old co-founder of Turning Point USA, was during an event at Utah Valley University in Orem on Sept. 10. He was rushed to a hospital in critical condition but later died.
Tyler Robinson, 22, was identified as the suspected gunman. After a two-day search, his family convinced him to surrender. Robinson has been charged with aggravated murder in connection with Kirk’s death.
Last month, the Pope also sent a telegram of condolence after a shooting at Annunciation Catholic Church in Minnesota, where two children were killed and 18 others were injured, including over a dozen students from the school.
However, the pope did not send a telegram about .
Burch hosted a diplomatic welcome reception on Monday, calling it a “remarkable time to be in Rome,” given the presence of the first American pope.
The ambassador mentioned his audience with the Pope, telling the assembled ambassadors, cardinals, and guests that the pontiff “reminded me he is not an American pope. He is a pope of America for the world.”
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