Pope Leo XIV has announced scholarships for Christian students from underprivileged families in Lebanon, Syria, and Iraq, covering their annual school and university tuition fees, as part of an initiative to support Christian communities in the Middle East.

The announcement came during a meeting with members of the Synod of the Melkite Greek Catholic Church of Antioch, where the Pope expressed concern over the challenges facing Christians in the region, including war, instability, religious extremism, and economic hardship.

He stressed the Church’s mission to promote reconciliation and peace in conflict-stricken areas, reaffirming the Catholic Church’s solidarity with those affected by ongoing crises.

According to the Vatican’s Dicastery for the Eastern Churches, the initiative aims to help young people access a Catholic education and enable Christian families to remain in the Middle East, preserving the region’s Christian presence.