Vatican City: In a moving ceremony at the Royal Hall of the Apostolic Palace, Archbishop Jacques Mourad, the Syrian Catholic Metropolitan of Homs, received the prestigious St. John Paul II Award in recognition of his unwavering commitment to peace, reconciliation, and interreligious dialogue in war-torn Syria.

The award, instituted by the John Paul II Vatican Foundation, celebrates those who embody the late pontiff’s vision of faith in action and dialogue among civilizations. Presenting the honour, Fr. Paweł Ptasznik, President of the Foundation, praised Archbishop Mourad as “a living witness of faith and hope, who has turned personal suffering into a mission of peace.”

Archbishop Mourad’s life is a testament to courage under persecution. In 2015, as a monk and priest, he was kidnapped

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