Rai Condolences to King of Jordan: We Pray for the Rest of the Souls of the Martyrs of Saint George Church in Karak

Maronite Patriarch Cardinal Bechara Boutros al-Rai addressed a message of condolence and solidarity to King Abdullah II bin Al-Hussein, to the united Jordanian family, Muslims and Christians alike, and to the entire Jordanian people, following the terrorist attack that targeted the Greek Orthodox Church of Saint George in Hamoud – Karak, which resulted in martyrs and wounded.

Al-Rai strongly condemned this attack, which violates the sanctity of life and the holiness of places of worship, expressing his full solidarity with the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, its leadership, people, and institutions. He praised King Abdullah II's positions in defending peace, justice, and human dignity, affirming that terrorism will not undermine the unity of Jordanians or their mission based on brotherhood, tolerance, and shared living.

Al-Rai offered prayers for the rest of the martyrs' souls, the healing of the wounded, and consolation for their families, asking God to protect Jordan, its leadership, and its people, and to perpetuate upon it the blessings of security, stability, and peace.

The text of the message stated: "To His Majesty the Hashemite King Abdullah II bin Al-Hussein, to the united Jordanian family, Muslims and Christians, and to all citizens of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. With profound sorrow and grief, we extend to His Majesty the King and to the dear Jordanian people our sincerest condolences and sympathies for the martyrdom of innocents in the sinful terrorist attack that targeted the Greek Orthodox Church of Saint George in Hamoud – Karak. We condemn and denounce in the strongest terms this crime that strikes at the sanctity of life and the holiness of places of worship, targeting Jordan's security and its humanitarian mission. As we pray to the Lord God for the rest of the martyrs' souls, for the healing of the wounded, and for the consolation of their families' hearts, we express our complete solidarity with His Majesty the King, the people of the Kingdom, and its national institutions. We salute the efforts of our vigilant security apparatuses, confident in their ability to control the situation, uncover the circumstances of this criminal act, and protect citizens while safeguarding the nation's security and stability. Recalling the honorable positions of His Majesty King Abdullah II in international forums, foremost among them the United Nations, in defense of the values of peace, justice, and human dignity, we affirm that these positions will remain an authentic Jordanian voice and a steadfast Hashemite message in supporting truth, protecting holy sites, and consolidating dialogue, tolerance, and shared living."

He continued: "Jordan will remain, God willing, an oasis of security and peace, a home encompassing all its children and components, Muslims and Christians, united against sedition and terrorism, and holding fast to their national unity and their ancient heritage of brotherhood and love. Sinful crimes will not diminish our shared mission; rather, they will increase our attachment to our homeland and our Hashemite leadership, and our determination to preserve human dignity and the sanctity of life. We raise our prayers for Jordan, king and people, asking the Lord God to protect His Majesty the King, the Crown Prince, and the Hashemite family, to bless the security forces in their mission, to grant the martyrs' families consolation and hope, and to preserve the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan as a blessed land of security, safety, brotherhood, and peace. May God have mercy on the martyrs, heal the wounded, protect Jordan, its leadership, and its people, and perpetuate upon it the blessings of unity, stability, and peace."