In Alexandria, an explosion outside Saint Mark’s Cathedral killed 11 people. Pope Tawadros II had been attending Mass inside, though he was unhurt.
An earlier blast at Saint George’s church in Tanta in the Nile Delta - north of Cairo - killed more than two dozen people. The so-called Islamic State has claimed responsibility for both attacks.
The World Council of Churches condemned today's terrorist attacks and called for an end to the violence, and Pope Francis expressed his prayerful closeness to the victims during his Angelus greetings at the conclusion of the Palm Sunday liturgy that was celebrated in Saint Peter's Square.
Official statement regarding the bombings of the Church of Saint Mark in Alexandria and Saint George Church in Tanta
Sunday, April 9, 2017 A.D., Baramouda 1
With great pride, the Egyptian Coptic Orthodox Church, the Church of Martyrs, bade her sons farewell, who were martyred today, Sunday, April 9, 2017, during the liturgy of Palm Sunday. They were carrying the palm leaves, praying and celebrating the commemoration of the entry of Christ, the King of Peace, to the city of Jerusalem, carrying the message of peace, promising the love and peace to all human beings.
The souls of the martyrs have been slain by the hands of the enemies of humanity, the enemies of peace and the carrier of tools of destruction. But now, with all the Church, they are offering their prayers to the Just Judge who sees, hears and writes a book of remembrance.
The Church also offers her condolences to the brave martyrs of our nation's law enforcement. We pray to God for the healing of all injured people and to keep Egypt and all her people away from the attacks of hatred that seek destruction of the walls of our nation and the ripping of its human fabric that forms its great heritage of unity, cohesion and co-existence.
May God keep Egypt and all her people away from all darkness, spirit of hatred, and all harm.
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