Christian World | Pope Leo XIV prayed at the Angelus on October 25, 2026 for victims of an attack on an Orthodox church in Jordan and invited the faithful to join Assisi's peace meeting.

ACW | October 26, 2026 — Pope Leo XIV prayed on Sunday, October 25, 2026, after the Angelus in St Peter's Square, for those killed or injured in a terrorist attack on worshippers at the Orthodox Church of St George in Hamoud, Jordan, according to the Vatican's official text.

He expressed closeness to the community and to the country of Jordan.

In his Angelus reflection on the Gospel of Matthew (22:34–40), the Pope said human love for God is a response to God's prior love and cannot be separated from love of neighbour.

He also voiced concern about the humanitarian situation in Taiz, Yemen, where people lack food, water and medical care, and called for an end to hostilities.

The Pope invited the faithful to join in spirit on October 27 with church and religious leaders gathering in Assisi for the 40th anniversary of the 1986 meeting convened by Pope John Paul II. He will not travel after recent surgery, on doctors' advice.

Background: ACW earlier reported on the attack on the Karak church and Jordan's three days of national mourning.

Why it matters: The Vatican's text pairs a prayer for victims of an attack on a church with a call for interreligious dialogue; both bear on freedom of religion or belief and the safety of Christian communities.

ACW will continue to follow this story.

Source: Holy See — Angelus of Pope Leo XIV, October 25, 2026

Photo: Vatican Media