Bishop Barron: Charlie Kirk Planned Rochester Visit This Month

Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News) - Slain conservative political activist Charlie Kirk was scheduled to visit Rochester later this month.

Catholic Winona-Rochester Diocese Bishop Robert Barron, in a social media post, stated that he had recently asked Kirk to appear with him on the bishop’s interview program, Bishop Barron Presents. The Facebook post indicates Kirk accepted the invitation and was set to come to Rochester for the interview in about 10 days.

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Bishop Barron Shares Last Conversations with Charlie Kirk

Bishop Barron also indicated that he last communicated with Kirk two nights ago. He explained that Kirk texted him and expressed appreciation for comments he made during an appearance on an evening news show while discussing the bishop’s participation in the Religious Liberty Commission.

Bishop Barron quoted Kirk as saying, “I’m excited to join you on the show soon. God bless you.”

According to the social media post, Bishop Barron first met Kirk approximately four years ago while in Arizona for a speaking engagement, when Kirk invited him to breakfast. The bishop described him as “a man of great intelligence, considerable charm, and real goodness of heart.”

Bishop Barron said he reconnected with Kirk last year by texting him after watching Kirk engage in a debate with a group of young people. In his Facebook post, the bishop wrote that he was “so struck by how he kept his cool and his charitable attitude in the face of some pretty obnoxious opposition.”

Bishop Barron Calls Kirk “A Passionate Christian”

Bishop Barron also described Kirk as “a great debater and also one of the best advocates in our country for civil discourse, but he was, first and last, a passionate Christian.” He added that, during their first meeting in Arizona, their discussion was mainly focused on religion.

Published reports also indicate that Kirk was scheduled to make an appearance at the University of Minnesota on September 22.