The bells of all the Catholic Churches across Jordan will ring in mourning for Muath al-Kaseasbeh, the 26-year-old Jordanian pilot who was murdered by the Islamic State. Following attempts to negotiate his release, IS militants released a video showing that the young pilot was immolated alive over a month ago. As outrage over the brutal execution by Islamic extremists spread throughout the Kingdom, Christians are uniting in solidarity and prayer for al-Kaseasbeh.
In an interview with Fides, Archbishop Laroun Lahham, Patriarchal Vicar for Jordan of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem, said that at 6 p.m., all parishes in Jordan will celebrate Mass and pray for the fallen soldier.
"An official delegation of the Catholic Church will travel to present their condolences to the family and the tribe to which Muath belonged," Archbishop Lahham said.
Following the release of the video, Jordanian authorities executed two terrorists in retaliation for the pilot's death.
Sajida al-Rishawi and Ziad al-Karbouli were awaiting sentencing for terrorist acts against the Kingdom. Al-Rishawi was at the center of a possible exchange for the pilot between Jordanian authorities and the Islamic State.
However, after IS failed to provide proof of life and eventually revealing al-Kaseasbeh's death over a month ago, the Jordanian government carried out the execution immediately.
