Pope Leo, the first US-born leader of the global Catholic Church, has prayed for an end to what he called the “pandemic of arms” following a mass shooting on 27th August at a Minnesota Catholic school that left two children dead.

“Our prayers go for the victims of the tragic shooting during a school Mass in the American state of Minnesota,” Pope Leo said in English during his weekly prayer with crowds in St Peter’s Square.

“Let us plead God to stop the pandemic of arms large and small, which infects our world,” the pope added.

Leo was elected pope by the world’s cardinals in May, following the death of Pope Francis. He has demonstrated a different style to his predecessor, rarely speaking off the cuff and generally preferring a more cautious tone in his public appeals.

Sunday’s prayer was also notable as a rare occasion when Pope Leo addressed a world event in his native English. He usually prefers to use Italian, the traditional language of the papacy.