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Pope Francis has expressed his sorrow over a tragic shooting at a Swedish school that resulted in the deaths of 10 students. In a telegram dated February 5, signed by Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican’s secretary of state, the pope conveyed his "spiritual closeness to all affected by this traumatic incident." He offered prayers for those who died and wished for comfort for their families and friends, as well as a quick recovery for the injured.
The incident occurred on February 4 when a gunman opened fire at Campus Risbergska, an adult education center in Örebro, before taking his own life. The attack is noted as the deadliest mass shooting in Sweden's history. Swedish Cardinal Anders Arborelius of Stockholm expressed concern over increasing violence in the country and mourned the victims.
Cardinal Arborelius, currently in Rome for a Jubilee pilgrimage with Nordic bishops, plans to return to Sweden on February 6. He stated that prayers would be offered in churches across Sweden for those killed and called upon divine help to foster goodness and harmony.
St. Eskil’s Church in Örebro announced it would remain open for personal prayers and hold an evening Mass on February 5 to honor those affected by the events.
The shooter remains unidentified but was described by police as a 35-year-old male from Örebro with no criminal record or known police interactions. Investigators are cautious about misinformation circulating on social media regarding his motives.
King Carl XVI Gustaf labeled the shooting a "terrible atrocity" and extended condolences to the victims while commending emergency responders for their efforts during the crisis.
Swedish Justice Minister Gunnar Strömmer remarked that such an event is unexpected in Sweden but mirrors incidents seen elsewhere globally. The attack has highlighted concerns about rising gang-related violence within Sweden. A study published by the Nordic Journal of Criminology noted that since 2005, Sweden has experienced an increase in gun violence, marking it as having one of Europe's highest rates of firearm homicides against men and young adults.
Junno Arocho Esteves reports from Malmö, Sweden for OSV News.
