Maronite Patriarch Bechara Boutros Rai strongly condemned the attacks that targeted three churches and three hotels in the Sri Lankan capital of Colombo on Easter Day, killing 290 people and wounding 500, including innocent believers who were celebrating the Easter holiday in churches.
Rai labeled such "bloodshed and treason acts against God's creatures" as being "crimes against humanity" that are impossible for any religion to tolerate or accept. He added that "the language of violence, hatred and cruelty is bound to subside at the dawn of a resurrection that discards all cultures of hatred, terrorism and ignorance that are denounced by all religions." The Patriarch expressed his deepest condolences to Sri Lanka's government, church and people in wake of such a tragedy.