Pope Leo XIV expressed his condolences for the attack on a church in Syria

Published at: 24/06/2025 10:34 PM

Pope Leo XIV expressed his condolences for the attack against the Greek Orthodox Church in Syria, in which 25 people died and more than 60 were injured, announced the Vatican's Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin.

“Pope Leo XIV deeply sympathizes with all those affected by the attack against the Greek Orthodox Church in Damascus. Pray for the dead and for those who mourn the loss of their loved ones, invoking God's mercy”, reads the message issued by the official press of the Holy See.

On June 22, the church of St. Elijah in Damascus was the target of a terrorist attack. According to the Syrian Interior Ministry, a suicide bomber who penetrated the temple opened fire on believers with automatic weapons and then activated an explosive device. The Arab nation's security forces attributed the attack to the terrorist group Islamic State (IS, banned in Russia).