On October 20, 2024, Pope Francis held his final canonization ceremony for new saints. Among them were seven saints referred to as the "Martyrs of Damascus." They were namely, eight Franciscan abbots, and three non-consecrated Maronites who were killed "out of hatred for faith" on the eve of July 9 and 10, 1860, at the Franciscan Monastery in the Bab Touma quarter in Damascus.

Their blood was mingled with the soil of holy Damascus on which Saint Paul the Apostle had walked. Let us not forget that it was in Antioch, Syria, whereby the followers of Jesus Christ were referred to in the Book of Acts for the first time as "Christians".

The 11 martyrs of Damascus were beatified by Pope Francis. He referred to them saying, “they made themselves servants of their brothers and sisters, creative in doing goodness, steadfast in difficulties, and generous to the end. They lived the faith, and in their message they offered they neither sought mundane desires nor had a lust for power. On the contrary, they made themselves servants of their brothers and sisters, creative in doing goodness, steadfast in hardship, and generous to the end."

It is worthy to note that when we inaugurated the Church of the Baptism of Christ at the Baptism Site in Jordan in early  2025, relics of saints were placed at the main temple, which included as well the relics of the saints and martyrs of Damascus.

This took place in mid-19^th century. Yet, we have been shocked to hear the news emerging from Damascus which indicate that there was a group of new martyrs, at a time when Syria was trying to turn over a news leaf despite all the reassurances Christians had received. Every now and then, an event would take place in different locations, and they were told, as the priests have noted on television: "We were told that these were isolated incidents."

We plead with God today that these incidents be isolated and be conducted by lone wolves, and that there be no orchestration of further tragedies neither within the churches nor anywhere else. We unanimously want a prosperous future for Syria, as well as to be as had been renowned for being influential, effective, active, and positive in the Arab world and in this region, which--God forbid--as soon as it emerges from a bloody political crisis, it plunges into a new cycle of violence.

The view at the church yesterday was tearful, saddening, and shameful, because Christians in Syria and those who remain in this brotherly Arab country, have always been active participants in serving their homeland including its cultural, spiritual, and social re-emergence. Nearly half of the country's Christians have emigrated in the past ten years, as have many Muslim did. But what has happened instilled fear in the hearts of many. Many friends have told me that they could not sleep at night, as they were moved by grief and sorrow for those who died in such a brutal manner, and out of fear for their children, for their countrymen, for their church members, for their community, and for fear that these terrorist acts may increase.

We definitely condemn this act of terrorism, which is characterized as barbaric and similar to all the terrorist acts that have occurred in churches of the East. We wish Syria well, and we encourage all people of good will, and all those who have influence in Syria, to speak out in condemnation and denunciation of what happened. Our East needs not terrorist organizations. It rather needs enlightened minds who serve their countries, view their people with respect and dignity, and strongly  work together so that Syria can rise and remain a symbol of brotherhood and common living as  well as a symbol of a civilization that respects plurality despite its crises.

May God have mercy on the martyrs, namely a new group of martyrs and saints of Damascus. May God heal the wounded and console those who fear for Syria's future. I conclude with what was written yesterday by Syrian Minister of Social Affairs Hind Qanwat, whom we saw on television moving frantically in the church, comforting the priests and weeping in grief, pain and sorrow over what had happened. She is the only Christian in the Syrian government, and she wrote on her website, what we concur with regard to this tragedy:

"May the martyrs of  St. Elias Church in Dweilaa rest in peace. In spite of the pain, bitterness, and grief that I share with my relatives in Dweilaa, and with all grieving Syrian men and women, my conviction remains firm that justice is stronger than injustice, that construction will triumph over destruction, that genuine faith will triumph over blasphemy, and that light will inevitably shine regardless how long darkness prevails.