The Syriac Catholic Archbishop Jacques Mourad of Homs, Hama, and Al-Nabek has issued a stark warning that the “Church in Syria is dying,” as the number of Christians in the country continues to plummet. Speaking at the launch of Aid to the Church in Need’s Religious Freedom in the World 2025 report in Rome, Archbishop Mourad pointed to Syria’s “disastrous political and economic situation” as the driving force behind waves of migration that have seen the Christian population drop from around 2.1 million in 2011 to about 540,000 in 2024.
He emphasized that despite efforts by both the local and universal Church, the exodus could not be stopped because the causes stem from the country’s instability, lack of governance, and ongoing insecurity. Mourad described how Syrians continue to endure violence, reprisals, and human rights abuses, warning that Syria is “becoming more like Afghanistan.” He cautioned that there is no move toward greater freedom—religious or otherwise—amid increasing oppression and hardship.
The Archbishop also voiced concern over the potential implications of a peace treaty with Israel that could involve ceding the Golan Heights, saying it would deprive Damascus residents of vital water sources and compromise fairness and human rights. He urged the international community to take a clear stance on Syria and called for collaboration between global institutions, cultural bodies, and educational organizations to help rebuild trust, strengthen justice, and promote legislative independence within the country.
At the report’s launch, Aid to the Church in Need introduced a petition to protect Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, urging governments to defend religious liberty and provide protection and legal aid for persecuted faith communities. Over the past decade, Syria’s Christian population has fallen from 6.3 percent to 2.3 percent, while the Muslim population has risen from 91.7 percent to 95.5 percent.
Archbishop Mourad, who was kidnapped by ISIS in 2015 and held captive for five months before escaping with the help of Muslims, now advocates for greater fraternity and dialogue between Christians and Muslims to foster mutual understanding and peace.
