Pope, leaders call for action after Minneapolis mass shooting at church

A memorial  lined the steps outside Annunciation Catholic Church in Minneapolis, honoring the victims of  Wednesday’s mass shooting.

(CNN)- A memorial  lined the steps outside Annunciation Catholic Church in Minneapolis, honoring the victims of  Wednesday’s mass shooting.

“We are here as believers, Catholics, to support this Christian community,” said Helen Morrell and Gayle Kitchel, who attended Mass over the weekend.

Authorities say the shooter opened fire Wednesday morning outside Annunciation School, aiming into the church as students gathered for Mass. Windows shattered as gunfire erupted, leaving 10-year-old Harper Moyski and 8-year-old Fletcher Merkel dead. Eighteen others were wounded.

“If I could have got between those bullets and the kids,” said Father Dennis Zehren, pastor of the parish, reflecting on the terrifying moments inside. The shattered windows of the church are now boarded up, a stark reminder of the violence.

Despite the grief, parishioners packed Sunday Mass. “We are in a very low place,” Father Zehren said. “It’s a place we never could have imagined even in our worst nightmares.”

The tragedy has drawn international attention. Pope Leo XIV issued a statement of solidarity, praying for victims and condemning what he called a “pandemic of arms large and small which infects our world.”

Calls for action are growing at home. Minnesota Rep. Ilhan Omar urged stronger gun laws, saying, “One [solution] is to make sure that we are getting rid of assault weapons in our community.”

Governor Tim Walz is reportedly weighing whether to call a special legislative session on gun reform in response to the shooting.