Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew expresses his horror at the terrorist attacks that took place on the day of Western Easter celebrations in churches and hotels in the greater area of the capital of Sri Lanka, Colombo, causing death to dozens of our fellow human beings and injuring hundreds.

His All-Holiness unambiguously condemns all acts of terror, as well as any act of hatred, violence and fundamentalism wherever they come from, and calls on everyone to work, through dialogue and in a spirit of mutual respect, to preserve the good of peaceful coexistence and co-operation.

The Holy and Great Church of Christ prays for the rest of the souls of the victims and expresses heartfelt condolences to their families, while wishing courage and a quick recovery to the injured. At the same time, she expresses her sympathy with and support for the local Roman Catholic Church, the Government and the people of Sri Lanka.

The Ecumenical Patriarch contacted the Metropolitan of Singapore, Constantine, and asked him to convey the above message of the Ecumenical Patriarchate to the Roman Catholic Community, the authorities and the Sri Lankan people as a whole.