The Assembly of Catholic Ordinaries of the Holy Land (ACOHL) has strongly condemned the recent suicide bombing of St. Elias Church in Damascus, Syria, describing the act as “barbaric” and an unjustifiable attack on innocent worshippers. The tragic incident claimed the lives of 25 people and left 63 others injured.
ACOHL, which unites Catholic Bishops, Eparchs, and Exarchs across Jerusalem, Israel, Palestine, Jordan, and Cyprus, issued a statement expressing “profound shock and deep revulsion” at the bombing, which occurred in one of Syria’s sacred Christian spaces.
“There is no justification—religious, moral, or rational—for the slaughter of innocents, least of all in a sacred space,” the statement read, emphasizing that invoking religion to justify such violence is “a grave perversion of all that is holy.”
The Assembly cited the Document on Human Fraternity signed by Pope Francis in Abu Dhabi in 2019, reaffirming the right to freedom of worship and the protection of religious sites. It stressed that “the protection of places of worship—synagogues, churches, and mosques—is a duty guaranteed by religions, human values, laws, and international agreements.” The bombing of St. Elias Church was, therefore, described as a gross violation of these universal principles.
ACOHL extended its heartfelt condolences to the Greek Patriarchate of Antioch and All the East, and stood in solidarity with all Christian communities in Syria who continue to endure religious persecution. The Assembly also offered prayers for the victims, the injured, and the grieving families.
Furthermore, the Catholic leaders called on Syrian authorities to prioritize the protection of Christian communities and places of worship, ensuring their right to live and worship freely without fear of violence.
Quoting Pope Francis’s Angelus address from June 22, the Assembly concluded with a fervent plea: “May the swamps of hatred and fanaticism be decisively eradicated so that the peoples of the Middle East—and beloved Syria in particular—may finally live in peace, dignity, and shared humanity.”
