Patriarch Awa III Warns of Rapid Decline of Christianity in Iraq and Syria

Catholicos-Patriarch Awa III of the Holy Apostolic Catholic Assyrian Church of the East recently visited Budapest, issuing a warning about the vanishing Christian communities in the Middle East. During a speech at Pázmány Péter Catholic University on May 21, he highlighted the resilience of Christians in the region despite ongoing challenges. A few days prior, he had attended the inaugural Mass of Pope Leo XIV, with whom he shares a common heritage and birthplace in Chicago. Their first private meeting at the Vatican offered hope for advancing ecumenical dialogue between their respective Churches.

The Assyrian Church of the East, one of the world’s oldest Christian communities, traces its roots to Mesopotamia. Its patriarchal seat is currently located in Erbil, in the Kurdistan region of Iraq. Though separated from the Catholic Church since the fifth century, the Assyrian Church shares many fundamental beliefs and has maintained theological dialogue with Rome since the 1980s.

Patriarch Awa, who will turn 50 on July 4, described a dire situation for Christians in Iraq and Syria. War, persecution, and neglect have led to the decline of once-thriving communities. In Iraq, entire towns have been emptied, and in Syria, the Christian population has dropped from an estimated 12% to 2% to 3%. The fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime and the rise of a new Islamist-influenced government have intensified fears among Christian minorities regarding their religious freedom, security, and public representation.

“We are facing the erasure of our people and tradition in the region,” he said, noting that parishes once filled with thousands now gather only dozens. While Christians in the Kurdistan region enjoy relative freedom to worship, build churches, and operate schools, the broader context remains bleak. Political instability and economic hardship continue to push Christian families into exile, with many now living in Jordan, Lebanon, and Turkey, hoping to reach Australia, North America, Canada, the U.S., or Europe.

Providing consistent pastoral care to these scattered communities has become increasingly difficult due to the scarcity of clergy and resources. The patriarch emphasized the need for global solidarity and support to preserve the Assyrian Church’s heritage and ensure the survival of its faithful. His concerns reflect a broader challenge for Christendom in the age of Pope Leo XIV, as ancient Christian communities face unprecedented threats to their existence.

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