Senior Christian leaders in Jerusalem have issued a stark warning about escalating violence across the Middle East, saying the region has been “plunged once again into chaos” marked by “death, destruction and immense suffering.”

The joint Easter message, published by the Jerusalem Patriarchate, followed a high-level meeting on March 27, 2026, chaired by Patriarch Theophilos III. Among those in attendance were Latin Patriarch Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa and senior representatives from Armenian, Coptic, Syriac, Ethiopian, Maronite, Melkite, Anglican, and Lutheran churches.

“With each passing day, violence intensifies and darkness engulfs our region,” the statement read, warning that the ongoing crisis has created a growing sense that “hope itself has abandoned the people.” The church leaders added that despair is spreading beyond the Middle East, affecting global economic stability and public sentiment.

Despite the grim outlook, the central message of the statement urged people not to succumb to hopelessness. “Death does not have the final word,” the leaders wrote, pointing to the Christian belief in the resurrection of Christ as a source of enduring hope even amid war. Quoting the Apostle Paul, they emphasized resilience: “We are afflicted, but not crushed… struck down, but not destroyed.”

The message also called on the international community and believers worldwide to take action. Church leaders urged prayer for victims, support for humanitarian efforts, and renewed pressure for an immediate ceasefire.

Particular concern was expressed for key flashpoints including Jerusalem, the Gaza Strip, and Lebanon, among other areas affected by the violence. The leaders appealed for an “immediate end to bloodshed” and the establishment of a “just peace” across the region.

The statement concluded with the traditional Easter proclamation, “Christ is risen! Truly He is risen!”—offered as a symbol of hope for an end to the conflict.