This archive report was first published on 4 August 2019.
On August 4, 2019, Pope Francis expressed his spiritual closeness to the victims and families affected by a series of gun attacks in the US.
Speaking to thousands of pilgrims and tourists in St. Peter's Square, Francis condemned the attacks that had 'bloodied Texas, California, and Ohio', targeting 'defenseless people'.
He specifically mentioned the El Paso, Texas, shooting that killed 20 people at a Walmart store, as well as another attack at a food festival in California where three people were killed, and a third in Dayton, Ohio, where 10 people were killed.
Francis, who has previously criticized the gun manufacturing industry, led the crowd in reciting a Hail Mary for the victims.
