Pope tells new US ambassador he is praying for Charlie Kirk and his family

Pope Leo XIV told the new U.S. ambassador to the Holy See that he is praying for Charlie Kirk, the conservative activist assassinated in Utah last week, as well as his wife and children, the Vatican spokesman said Tuesday. Leo also “expressed concern about political violence and spoke of the need to refrain from rhetoric and exploitation that lead to polarization rather than dialogue,” spokesman Matteo Bruni said in comments reported by Vatican News. The pope made the comments on Saturday when he received Ambassador Brian Burch in an audience to receive his credentials.