On June 22, the Solemnity of Corpus Christi, two armed men stormed the Greek Orthodox Church of St. Elias in Damascus, Syria, and after opening fire on the congregation, they detonated their explosive vests inside the church. According to Syrian officials, the terrorist attack left at least 25 people dead and more than 60 injured; they mentioned that the perpetrators might be affiliated with the Islamic State.
During his Wednesday General Audience, Pope Leo prayed for the victims of the “vile terrorist attack” and expressed solidarity with all Christians in the Middle East: “I am close to you, and the whole Church stands with you.” The pontiff shared that he has been following the situation in Iran, Israel, and Palestine, and urged the international community to “not turn its gaze away from Syria”, calling for an end to violence in the region.
Bishop Elias Zaidan, chairman of the USCCB’s Committee on International Justice and Peace, issued a statement warning that “sectarian violence, of whatever religious or ideological type, if not stopped, will derail Syria’s full integration into the community of nations.” He emphasized the need for international vigilance to safeguard religious minorities in the Middle East and called “for ardent prayers for the safety of our Christian brothers and sisters in Syria.” The full statement is available here.