--- title: Syrian Archbishop Jacques Mourad of Homs shares his Christian Optimism for Syria description: Syrian Archbishop Jacques Mourad of Homs encourages Christians to share optimism image: https://www.centreforoptimism.com/hubfs/AI-Generated%20Media/Images/in%20Homs%20Syria%20christians%20gather%20and%20smileHoms%20catholic%20Christian%20church%20in%20the%20background.jpeg --- ###### [Check out Our latest insights on Optimism](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/blog) [![Centre for Optimism_Logo](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/hubfs/Centre%20for%20Optimism_Logo.svg)](https://www.centreforoptimism.com?hsLang=en) - [Home](https://www.centreforoptimism.com) - [Subscribe](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/subscribe) - [Why Optimism?](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/whyoptimism) - [What is Optimism?](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/whatisoptimism) - [The Optimism Principle](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/blog/theoptimismprinciple) - [Need Optimism?](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/services-and-workshops) - [The Optimism Workshop](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/workshop) - [Victor Perton - That Optimism Man](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/victorperton) - [Magnetic Optimism for Organisations](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/magnetic-optimism-workshops) ![Close Icon (3)](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/hubfs/Close%20Icon%20(3).svg) ![Search (2)](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/hubfs/Search%20(2).svg) ###### [Christian Optimism](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/blog/tag/christian-optimism) , ###### [Syria](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/blog/tag/syria) # Syrian Archbishop Jacques Mourad of Homs shares his Christian Optimism for Syria "I encourage Christians to share this optimism." Alix Champlon asked Syrian Archbishop Jacques Mourad of Homs, *"**Many Christians have fled, deeply worried about their future. Do you share some of their fears? How do you try to reassure them?"*   The Archbishop said, "For now, I want to remain positive. I trust in God and our Syrian people. We are men and women of faith, and I believe that this can be a key to living together. I encourage Christians to share this optimism and entrust our lives and history to God. Without this, we will never achieve any form of stability—though this stability will also depend, of course, on our neighbors: the Holy Land, Lebanon, and Iraq." Kidnapped in 2015 in Syria and held for five months by Islamic State jihadists  before managing to escape, Archbishop Jacques Mourad is a model of resilience. Read ['In Syria, we are beginning to smell the scent of freedom,' says Homs archbishop"](https://international.la-croix.com/opinions/in-syria-we-are-beginning-to-smell-the-scent-of-freedom-says-homs-archbishop) [![Read More on Christian Optimism](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/21889975/f649ae5d-7f24-4fa9-9994-be63d77e77a3.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/21889975/f649ae5d-7f24-4fa9-9994-be63d77e77a3) ### More on Syrian Optimism "It's a new **Syria**. We are very **optimistic**," said Mahmoud Meslat of the **#Syrian** Democratic Council speaking to Leila Fadel. --- "a remarkable sense of **#optimism**" Matthew Doran and West Matteeussen praised **Syrian** refugee Sahar Mohamad Kamal in a story "Uncertainty for Syrian refugees as Assad regime's fall brings **optimism** about heading home." They wrote, "The fall of the brutal Assad regime in Syria is fuelling optimism among the millions of Syrian refugees scattered across the Middle East and around the world about returning home." Sahar told them, "Whatever comes next, it's going to be better than with Bashar al-Assad — by far." Matthew and West wrote, "It is a remarkable sense of optimism, considering her son Abdul Rahman did attempt to return over the weekend, only to be killed in an explosion." ### See Also ["Things could go very wrong in Syria – they could also go very right. Let’s gift its people optimism", by Nesrine Malik](https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2024/dec/16/wrong-syria-people-optimism-assad) [‘Pure joy and awful sadness’: Syrians in Australia cautiously optimistic for their homeland’s future](https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2024/dec/15/pure-joy-and-awful-sadness-syrians-in-australia-cautiously-optimistic-for-their-homelands-future?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter) [Syrians on P.E.I. cautiously optimistic for loved ones back home after ouster of al-Assad](https://www.cbc.ca/lite/story/1.7405475?feature=related-link) [Written by Victor Perton](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/blog/author/victor-perton) ##### Keep up to date with the latest from Centre for Optimism ##### We appreciate any contribution you can make to help us spread optimism with the world [![Give Today](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/21889975/daed54ec-1173-4b99-9390-e69152e87436.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/21889975/daed54ec-1173-4b99-9390-e69152e87436) #### Here are some similar articles ###### [Christmas](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/blog/tag/christmas) , ###### [Christian Optimism](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/blog/tag/christian-optimism) #### [An Optimist's Christmas 2025](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/blog/christmas?hsLang=en) [Read Article](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/blog/christmas?hsLang=en) ###### [United Kingdom](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/blog/tag/united-kingdom) , ###### [Christian Optimism](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/blog/tag/christian-optimism) , ###### [Faith](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/blog/tag/faith) , ###### [Islam](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/blog/tag/islam) #### [Faith, Optimism and Wellbeing: Insights from Britain](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/blog/britain?hsLang=en) [Read Article](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/blog/britain?hsLang=en) ###### [Gratitude](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/blog/tag/gratitude) , ###### [Christian Optimism](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/blog/tag/christian-optimism) #### [Being Optimistic: Father Martin Maunsell](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/blog/fathermartinmaunsell?hsLang=en) [Read Article](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/blog/fathermartinmaunsell?hsLang=en) ## Connect With Us ##### We love to connect with everyone who is ready to open up and share their optimisim. - [![Facebook 2](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/hubfs/Center%20of%20Optimism%20Assets/Facebook%202.svg)](https://www.facebook.com/optimistsvoices/) - [![instagram (6)](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/hubfs/instagram%20(6).svg)](https://www.instagram.com/centreforoptimism/?hl=en) - [![linked in 2](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/hubfs/linked%20in%202.svg)](https://www.linkedin.com/company/centreforoptimism/) - [![youtube (3)](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/hubfs/youtube%20(3).svg)](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFd4GnToz3WLasQSfsz_z8w) - [![twitter](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/hubfs/twitter.svg)](https://twitter.com/Centre4Optimism) #### Keep up to date with the latest from The Centre for Optimism ##### Contact Us Call Us: [+61 417 217 241](tel:+61%20417%20217%20241) (Australia) PO Box 5081, Garden City, Victoria 3207, Australia ##### [The Centre for Optimism](https://www.centreforoptimism.com?hsLang=en) - [Why Optimism?](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/whyoptimism) - [What is Optimism?](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/whatisoptimism) - Why be Optimistic? 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