Updated October 31, 2025

The Christian presence in Syria, once a cornerstone of its ancient culture, is spiraling toward extinction, according to a bishop who lived through ISIS captivity, as Church in Need reports.

Speaking at a religious freedom event in Rome, Syriac Catholic Archbishop Jacques Mourad claimed that political collapse and economic ruin are pushing Christians out of the country faster than the Church can respond.

Mourad, once abducted by ISIS and held captive before escaping with the help of Muslim allies, now leads the archdiocese of Homs, Hama, and al-Nabek. His warnings came during a public presentation of the "Religious Freedom in the World Report 2025" hosted by Aid to the Church in Need, a pontifical group tracking the persecution of Christians.

Worsening Crisis Triggers Historic Christian Exodus

According to Aid to the Church in Need, the number of Christians in Syria plummeted from 2.1 million in 2011 to around 540,000 in 2024. That’s a staggering drop in just over a decade—over 70% of Syria’s Christian community gone, not because of doctrine, but dysfunction.

Mourad made it clear the Church isn't the problem. “None of the efforts by the Universal Church or the local Church managed to stem the tide of the exodus,” he said. “The causes are not related to the Church, but rather to the country’s disastrous political and economic situation.”

In late 2024, Syria’s longtime regime collapsed, only to be replaced by a rebel movement led by a former jihadist, Ahmed al-Sharaa. Despite his efforts to rebrand and reassure religious minorities, the violence and instability rage on, and hope is running dry.

“We Don’t Trust the Government or the World”

Mourad didn’t sugarcoat the state of affairs. He described his country as a crumbling husk, comparing it to Afghanistan—minus the last stages of collapse, at least for now. But with 95% of Syria identified as Muslim and Christians now only 2.3% of the population, coexistence is on shaky ground.

“We are becoming more and more like Afghanistan,” he warned. “We don’t have that level of violence yet, but we’re not that far off either.” Echoing the stark alienation many Syrians feel, he added, “The people don’t trust the local government or the international community. We only trust in God.”

It's a bitter indictment of global leadership. Mourad believes that without a secure political framework and functioning institutions, migration will remain Syria’s most successful export. “You can’t stop a wave of migration without first establishing a well-defined political government model in Syria and a solid security system,” he said.

Syria at a Crossroads With No Roadmap

The Church, despite relentless efforts, has been outmatched by sheer chaos. Mourad openly admits the Church has failed to contain the Christian exodus because its root causes lie far beyond the pulpit—in politics, poverty, and lawlessness.

Now, even rebuilding trust seems like a fool’s errand. Decades of division between Syria’s ruling elite and its citizens have left scars deeper than any single regime. “The lack of justice is a consequence of the past 60 years,” said Mourad. “It carved out a great division between the state and the people.”

That disconnection is fueling a crisis of identity inside Syria’s Christian communities. Mourad remarked that many Catholics feel like “foreigners in our own country,” despite their millennia-old roots in Syrian history.

Church Pivots Towards Grassroots Political Renewal

Still, all is not lost. In Aleppo, the Catholic Church is initiating forums to train citizens for political leadership and civic engagement. The idea isn’t to revive old power structures but to plant the seeds of democratic thinking in a country unfamiliar with political transparency.

Mourad believes real progress will come not from foreign interventions, but from cultural revival and education. He called on local and global institutions to link arms with schools, universities, and civic bodies to overcome fear and foster a generation trained in justice and governance.

He voiced strong skepticism toward a possible peace treaty between Syria and Israel that would give up the Golan Heights. Ceding that land, he warned, would mean surrendering Damascus’ water resources and basic dignity. “Where are the human rights values that should help ensure that decisions are fair for both parties?” he asked.

Faith, Not Formalities, Keeps Syrian Christians Going

For now, faith remains the last currency of hope. The political shuffling and international promises have done little to restore confidence, let alone bring peace. Mourad urged the international community to stop waffling and “adopt a clear position regarding what is happening in Syria.”

He ended by thanking those helping the persecuted Church without political posturing or media campaigns. “We are grateful to you, dear friends and benefactors at ACN, because you make it possible to relieve the suffering of needy and persecuted Christians in Syria and all over the world,” he said.

If the world’s policymakers won’t stand up for Syria’s Christians, at least some private citizens will. But given the stakes, charity can only go so far. Moral clarity and political will—two things in dangerously short supply—are what Syria needs now.