BEIRUT — Syriac Catholic Patriarch Ignatius Joseph III Younan accused a Vatican official and a bishop of his own church of supporting efforts to remove him from office, escalating a public dispute within the Syriac Catholic hierarchy and over its relationship with the Holy See. In remarks to The Pillar, Younan said Bishop Flavien Rami al-Kabalan, who previously served as the patriarchal procurator to the Holy See, had worked to rally bishops against his leadership.

HMOTH, Syria / VIENNA — One of Syria's most prominent Christian leaders issued a stark warning against the premature return of Syrian refugees, saying that worsening insecurity, economic collapse, and shrinking religious freedoms make a safe and dignified return impossible. Speaking during a visit to Vienna on Tuesday, Syriac Catholic Archbishop of Hmoth (Homs) Jacques Mourad said he would not advise Syrians who fled the country to return under current conditions, despite the political changes that followed the fall of former President Bashar al-Assad in late 2024.