Archbishop Mourad receives St. John Paul II Award for peace and interreligious dialogue in Syria, emphasizing unity and hope amid war.
Newsroom (20/10/2025, Gaudium Press) Archbishop Jacques Mourad, Syrian Catholic Metropolitan of Homs, received the St. John Paul II Award on Saturday, October 18, in the Vatican’s Apostolic Palace, recognized for his unwavering commitment to peace, reconciliation, and interreligious dialogue in war-torn Syria. The award, presented by Fr. Paweł Ptasznik, President of the John Paul II Vatican Foundation, celebrates Mourad’s extraordinary witness to faith, particularly following his harrowing five-month captivity by the so-called Islamic State (ISIS) in 2015.
“Interreligious and intercultural dialogue is not optional but a vital necessity of our times, especially for our war-torn country, Syria,” Mourad declared in his acceptance speech in the Royal Hall, emphasizing the urgent need for unity among Christians and Muslims. The ceremony, attended by Cardinal Kurt Koch, Cardinal Mario Zenari, former Polish Prime Minister Hanna Suchocka, and other dignitaries, underscored Mourad’s role as a beacon of hope amid Syria’s ongoing strife.
In 2015, then-Fr. Mourad was kidnapped by ISIS, enduring torture and a staged execution in an attempt to force him to renounce his faith. Unbroken, he emerged as a leading advocate for reconciliation, later becoming Archbishop of Homs. “This award acknowledges the spiritual, social, and intellectual work of the Church in Syria,” Mourad said, dedicating the honor to the youth and religious sisters supporting the Church’s mission.
Cardinal Koch, Prefect of the Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity and chair of the award committee, praised Mourad’s “lifetime of service” and fidelity to the ecumenical vision of Pope St. John Paul II, who urged the Church to “breathe with two lungs”—Eastern and Western. Professor Andrea Riccardi, in presenting Mourad’s achievements, highlighted his commitment to “living together among diversity as brothers,” a message resonating as a universal call for peace.
Mourad emphasized Syria’s need for solidarity as it seeks reconciliation and democracy after years of conflict. “We are a people of faith, and therefore a people of hope,” he said, urging renewed international efforts to build lasting peace. He expressed gratitude to Pope Leo XIV and the John Paul II Foundation for their support of dialogue initiatives.
The Archbishop dedicated the award to Fr. Paolo Dall’Oglio, a pioneer of Christian-Muslim dialogue in Syria, and to his Mar Moussa monastic community, founded in 1982, which continues to foster “holy hospitality” through theological and cultural symposia. “Together, we seek peace,” Mourad affirmed, reinforcing that interreligious dialogue remains a cornerstone for Syria’s future.
- Raju Hasmukh with files from Vatican News
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