Faith and Struggle in the Middle East Born in Syria and now leading the Archdiocese of Homs, Archbishop Julian Yacoub Mourad is the 2025 recipient of the John Paul II Award. His life has been marked by profound courage, enduring suffering, and steadfast faith. After being held captive by ISIS, his survival has become a powerful testimony to hope and resilience. Following the award ceremony at the Vatican, Archbishop Mourad spoke with EWTN about his intense experience, the complex challenges facing Christians in the Middle East today, and what the John Paul II Award means to him and for his community. He began by saying, \u201cOn a personal level, it encourages me deeply. It helps me realize how significant the work we are doing is, and that we must continue in it, in the path of dialogue, initiative, and taking responsibility in society during this time. And also, regarding relations with Muslims and the importance of dialogue, this is something essential and urgent. I feel that this award encourages Syrians, and especially Syrian Christians, to recognize the importance of the Church\u2019s mission in proclaiming Christ\u2019s love to Muslims and in respecting others as others, regardless of personal attitudes.\u201d What is the greatest challenge, Your Excellency, that you are currently facing regarding Christian\u2013Muslim dialogue in Syria and the broader Middle East? \u201cThere is a serious challenge, not an easy one, because there is a clear position from some official Muslim authorities, and I\u2019m referring here to the muftis, the sheikhs, and the official religious institutions, who are not opening the door for meeting and dialogue with other components of society, including Christians and others. \u201cThey consider, as the message we received conveys, that the Sunnis are the true and only religion, the religion of the state, and that everyone else are merely guests. \u201cI believe that this challenge is also a school for us, a test, because it helps us, first of all, to hold firmly to our position and to continue taking initiatives. \u201cWe must not stop, because we must understand that the love of Christ must reach everyone.\u201d You were held captive for five months by ISIS. Could you share with us a moment or a specific incident from that experience that deeply affected your spiritual outlook and your future mission after that ordeal? \u201cI especially like to speak about the encounter that took place on the eighth day, when the governor of Raqqa came to see me in the bathroom where I was being held. \u201cWhen he entered, he was accompanied by four men, and one of them was masked, dressed completely in black, with only his eyes visible. As soon as I saw him, I thought to myself, this is the man who has come to cut off my head. It was just before sunset. But the surprise was that as soon as he entered, he said, \u2018Peace be upon you.\u2019 \u201cWe then spent some time in conversation, exchanging thoughts and questions. \u201cI asked him, \u2018Sheikh, why am I here as a prisoner? What wrong have I done to deserve this fate?\u201d His first answer was, \u201cIn war, there are always victims.\u2019 \u201cThat answer stunned me. I felt crushed, a wave of despair, as though my end had come, that there was no more hope of returning to life. But then he was silent for a few seconds, and afterward he said: \u2018Consider this time, these months, as a khalwa, a spiritual retreat.\u2019 \u201cAnd as he said those words, I suddenly felt a profound inner peace unlike anything I had ever known. \u201cFrom that day on, that prison, that small bathroom, became like a hermitage for me.\u201d Your Excellency Archbishop Jacques Mourad, Archbishop of Homs for the Syriac Catholics, thank you for being with us. \u201cThank you for the opportunity that allows us to share our message through the media. May God bless you.\u201d Adapted by Jacob Stein. Produced by Alexey Gotovsky; Camera by Alberto Basile, Fabio Gonnella; Video Edited by Andrea Manna Receive the most important news from EWTN Vatican via WhatsApp. It has become increasingly difficult to see Catholic news on social media. Subscribe to our free channel today EWTN Vatican on WhatsApp Elias Turk Would you like to receive the latest updates on the Pope and the Vatican Receive articles and updates from our EWTN Newsletter. More news related to this article This was the First Televised Message from a Pope Legacy of Pier Giorgio Frassati as Told by His Niece Wanda Gawro\u0144ska Pope Francis, Former President Clinton to Have \u2018Special Conversation\u2019 at Foundation Meeting LIVE | General Audience with Pope Francis | April 5th 2023 The Story of the First Papal Legate in China Pope Leo XIV plans to hold major meeting of cardinals in January<\/p>\n