Youhanna Jihad Battah

Youhanna Jihad Mtanos Battah (born 26 June 1956) is a Syrian Syriac Catholic hierarch, who has served as the Archbishop of Damascus since 2019. He previously served as a Curial Bishop of the Patriarchal Curia and the Titular Bishop of Phaena from 2011 to 2019.

Early life and education Youhanna Jihad Mtanos Battah was born on 26 June 1956 in Damascus, Syria. He pursued his initial ecclesiastical studies at the Holy Spirit University of Kaslik in Lebanon.

He later moved to Rome for advanced studies, where he earned a Doctorate in Canon Law from the Pontifical Oriental Institute in 1998.

His early ministry included serving as the parish priest of Quatana. From 1992 to 2002, he served as the Rector of the Patriarchal Seminary of Charfet in Lebanon. He then returned to Rome, where he served as Rector of the Saint Ephrem College from 2002 to 2009. Upon his return to Syria, he was appointed Protosyncellus (Vicar General) of the Archeparchy of Damascus. He has maintained close ecumenical ties with the Syriac Orthodox Church, including formal visits to Patriarch Ignatius Aphrem II to exchange greetings on the Christmas.

Battah has been a vocal advocate for "Middle East Synodality," emphasizing the importance of Christian unity and the preservation of the Christian presence in Syria despite the challenges posed by the Syrian civil war.