On September 11, 2025, University president Peter Kilpatrick shared the following message with the campus community.
Dear Members of the University Community,
Our community grieves the tragic and unexpected death of Charlie Kirk, whose life was cut short Wednesday by an act of senseless violence at Utah Valley University. Please join me in praying for the soul of Charlie, and offering our prayers and our sincerest condolences to his wife Erika, their two children, and his family and friends.
The fact that this tragedy occurred on a college campus makes it particularly troubling. Universities should be sanctuaries for the free exchange of ideas, places where minds can meet in respectful discourse even amid passionate disagreement. When violence invades these spaces, it threatens the very foundation of intellectual freedom and democratic dialogue upon which society depends.
Schools should also be safe spaces where all members of the community can engage in learning without fearing for their lives. Two weeks ago the first school shooting ever in a Catholic Church killed two school children at Annunciation Catholic School in Minneapolis. This violence in our schools is the ultimate darkness.
As we reflect on these tragedies on September 11 — a day that forever reminds us of the cost of violence and hatred — we are called to even deeper contemplation about the society we wish to build together.
At The Catholic University of America, we hold fast to our conviction that God is our light, and that this is the moment to draw ever closer to that divine light. We are called to be light for the world, building bridges, protecting the vulnerable, and creating a culture where every person's dignity is respected. It is this light that guides us toward hope, even in these moments of sorrow.
Our prayers are with the Kirk family and all who knew and loved Charlie. May his soul rest in peace.
Our prayers are also with the families who lost their children at Annunciation Catholic School, and all those affected by violence in schools. May the love of Our Lord bring them comfort.
Classes will continue as normal today. The Office of the Dean of Students, Campus Ministry and the Counseling Center are available to provide support to the University community.
Sincerely,
Peter Kilpatrick
President
The Catholic University of America
