Archbishop Jacques (Julian) Yacoub Mourad was born in Aleppo, Syria, on 28 June 1968. He has been associated with the Syriac Catholic Church from an early age. He completed his seminary training in Lebanon, studying philosophy and theology, before going on to pursue liturgical theology at Saint-Esprit University in Kaslik. He later joined the monastic community of Deir Mar Musa al-Habashi, where he collaborated with Paolo Dall’Oglio. The community sought to build bridges between Christianity and Islam through dialogue and fraternity. In 1993, he took monastic vows and was ordained a priest for the Archparchy of Homs.

For over a decade, he served at the Monastery of St Elian in Al-Qaryatayn, near Homs in Syria, where he had been prior since 2000 and also served as the local parish priest. He carried out pastoral, charitable and social work, supporting refugees, providing water and electricity, helping with agriculture and offering assistance to people of all faiths. He was deeply committed to the local community and to interreligious dialogue. In May 2015, he was abducted by ISIS and held captive for over two weeks. During his captivity, he endured psychological and physical torture, was threatened with death, and was pressured to renounce his faith.

He has often recalled that during this period, his strength came from prayer, particularly the rosary, and from monastic spirituality. He sought to save lives, particularly those of Muslims he had previously helped. His release became a symbol of solidarity and goodness. Following his captivity, he lived in monasteries in Cori, Italy and Sulaymaniyah, Iraq. In 2020, he returned to Syria, where he served as deputy prior in Al-Qaryatayn, overseeing the community’s economic affairs. His courage, deep faith and conviction that Christians must not abandon Syria have been widely recognised. On 7 January 2023, the Synod of Bishops of the Syriac Catholic Church appointed him Archbishop of Homs, a decision confirmed by Pope Francis. He received episcopal consecration on 3 March 2023. In his role as Archbishop of Homs, he serves as a moral and spiritual voice for Syria, advocating for humanitarian aid, opposing persecution and injustice, and promoting cooperation among all communities living in the country.

Archbishop Jacques Mourad is multilingual, speaking Arabic, Syriac, French, English and Italian. He is admired for his empathy, humility and ability to bring people together. In his public statements, he emphasises that Christians in Syria are part of a broader society alongside Muslims, Alawites and followers of other traditions, not merely victims of war. He believes that dialogue and cooperation are essential for Syria’s future. His journey – from a priest serving the residents of Al-Qaryatayn, through abduction by ISIS and his subsequent release, to becoming Archbishop of Homs – makes him a deeply symbolic figure for the Church in the Middle East. He is a witness to courage and fidelity to faith, as well as to the Church’s mission to support those who suffer. For many Christians and Muslims in Syria, he represents hope for reconciliation and the rebuilding of society.