Damascus: In the wake of the horrific suicide bombing at St. Elias Greek Orthodox Church in Damascus, which left 25 people dead and 63 others injured, the Assembly of Catholic Ordinaries of the Holy Land (ACOHL) issued a powerful statement condemning the atrocity as a violation of all that is sacred.
Describing the attack as an act of “unspeakable evil,” the bishops' body denounced the bombing as both a crime against humanity and a grave sin before God. “There exists no justification whether religious, ethical, or logical for the massacre of innocents, particularly within a house of worship,” the statement declared. The Assembly, which includes Catholic bishops across Jerusalem, Israel, Palestine, Jordan, and Cyprus, strongly rebuked any attempt to cloak such violence in religious rhetoric, calling it a “perversion of the divine.”
Echoing sentiments from the 2019 Document on Human Fraternity signed by Pope Francis, the bishops emphasized that safeguarding places of worship is a universal obligation upheld by religious teachings, human dignity, and international law. “Any assault on churches, mosques, or synagogues is a betrayal of religious values and a blow to peaceful coexistence,” they asserted.
The ACOHL extended heartfelt condolences to the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch and All the East, while denouncing the bombing as a “barbaric act” rooted in ideologies that manipulate religion to justify bloodshed. The Assembly offered prayers for the victims and their families, along with petitions for healing among the wounded and strength for communities shaken by the violence.
In a plea for concrete action, the statement urged the Syrian government to step up efforts to safeguard Christian citizens, affirming their right to live freely and contribute to the rebuilding of their homeland. The bishops underscored the suffering endured by Syria’s Christian population over the years due to continued persecution and instability.
Drawing from Pope Leo XIV’s Angelus message on June 22, the Assembly concluded with a call to purge the region of extremism and hatred: “May the wells of violence and fanaticism be dried up, and may Syria and all of the Middle East finally enjoy peace, dignity, and shared humanity.”