Latest news with #Chaldean
Shafaq News
2 days ago
- Politics
- Shafaq News
Patriarch Sako meets Lebanese President, calls for peace and state building
Shafaq News/ On Sunday, Chaldean Catholic Patriarch, Cardinal Louis Raphael Sako, met with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun in Baghdad to discuss the region's unfolding crises. The Chaldean Patriarchate announced that Sako called for empowering the Church's role in assisting impoverished families by developing housing complexes that uphold human dignity and provide a decent life, affirming the vital role that religious and political authorities can play in promoting a culture of peace and coexistence in a region facing mounting challenges. Both sides stressed the importance of joint efforts to build a 'strong state governed by the rule of law, rooted in inclusive citizenship, with arms confined solely to the state and firm action against all forms of corruption,' the statement read.
Shafaq News
26-05-2025
- Politics
- Shafaq News
Chaldean Archbishop hails President Barzani's Christian support in Iraq
Shafaq News/ Chaldean Archbishop Bashar Matti Warda praised Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani for his continued support of Iraq's Christian community. Speaking at the opening of the Church Endowment Administration Conference in Erbil on Monday, Warda, who also chairs the Catholic University's Board of Trustees in Erbil, described Barzani's presence as a 'powerful gesture' of solidarity and respect for Christian heritage. 'This is a pivotal moment in preserving Christian identity in Iraq, particularly in the Kurdistan Region,' he said, highlighting church endowments as 'vital links' to the community's historical roots and crediting the Region's leadership with protecting religious freedoms and fostering coexistence. Referencing scripture, Warda framed the Church's role as one of responsible stewardship and pointed to Article 43 of the Iraqi Constitution, which guarantees religious groups the right to manage their institutions—affirming their authority to protect and sustain their legacy.
Shafaq News
07-05-2025
- Politics
- Shafaq News
Cardinal Sako: Don't forget suffering churches in the East
Shafaq News/ On Wednesday, Chaldean Patriarch Cardinal Louis Raphaël I Sako urged the next Pope to stand firmly with Middle Eastern churches, calling for greater attention to their struggles. In a statement, Sako noted that churches in the East feel marginalized despite being the historical roots of Christianity, adding that while Eastern patriarchates have become minorities today, they once played a pioneering role in spreading Christianity. 'Pope Francis was close to the suffering of Middle Eastern Christians, having visited six countries in the region, including Iraq, where he met with Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani in what he described as a historic event,' he pointed out, hoping that the next Pope would 'continue this path,' working to strengthen dialogue and unity, and to resolve outstanding issues without delay. The conclave to elect the 267 th head of the Catholic Church began Wednesday in the Sistine Chapel, with 133 cardinals from around the world participating in the vote to choose a successor to Pope Francis, who passed away on April 21 at the age of 88. On Wednesday afternoon, under the gaze of Michelangelo's frescoes, the 133 cardinals taking part in the 2025 conclave entered the Sistine Chapel. The ancient ritual to elect the Pope has officially around 3:45pm the cardinal-electors gathered in the Pauline Chapel and,… — Vatican News (@VaticanNews) May 7, 2025 This conclave is considered the largest and most geographically diverse in the Church's history, with cardinals from more than 70 countries. The election is expected to take several days, with a two-thirds majority required for any candidate to be elected.
The National
02-05-2025
- Politics
- The National
'We need hope for the Middle East': What the region's clergy are looking for in a new pontiff
In Aramaic, English and Arabic, Christians from Iraq's Chaldean community prayed for Pope Francis during a private mass at the Basilica of Saint Mary Major in Rome, where their beloved pontiff was buried a day earlier. Cardinal Louis Raphaël Sako, the Chaldean Patriarch of Baghdad, travelled from Iraq for the funeral and led the mass in the majestic church with its Corinthian colonnades and delicate frescoes. Packed with devoted worshippers, the service was a testament to Pope Francis's popularity in the Middle East. His 2021 visit to Iraq, the first papal trip to the country, followed years of war and persecution under ISIS rule and remains a memorable moment for Iraq's dwindling Christian communities. Speaking to The National, eight members of the Middle Eastern clergy called for the next pope to preserve Francis's legacy by maintaining the Vatican's outreach to the region and its efforts to bring peace. 'We will always remember him in our prayers. All the people of Iraq respect and love him for this,' Bishop Basel Salim Yaldo, the Curial Bishop of Baghdad and co-ordinator of the visit, told The National after the mass. 'We hope the next Pope will visit our country because we need hope for the Middle East." Bishop Yaldo is one of many representatives of the Eastern clergy who have praised Pope Francis's legacy in the Middle East, the cradle of Christianity and now home to a patchwork of Christian communities. His papacy was marked by iconic moments, from his daily calls with a Gaza parish during the war, to his historic first visit to the Arabian Peninsula, where he signed the Abu Dhabi Document on Human Fraternity with Sheikh Ahmed El Tayeb, the highest authority among Sunni Muslims, committing to interfaith dialogue. The clergy members who spoke to The National reflected on the void left by Pope Francis and the uncertainty surrounding his succession. 'Sometimes the church moves with quick steps; sometimes it does not move forward at all," Father Jad Kossaify, procurator of the Lebanese Maronite Order to the Holy See, told The National. "With Pope Francis, it made giant strides. A new pope might remain silent on some issues where Francis had been a driving force. 'His legacy could be at risk; it all depends on the style of the next pope, whether he is close to Pope Francis's inclusive theology. Each Pope has his own personality and charisma and, as of now, everything is possible." For Lebanese priest Rafic Warsha, the procurator of the Maronite Patriarch to the Holy See, one of the most notable legacies to be pursued by the next pontiff is Pope Francis's commitment to interfaith dialogue. The historic pledge of fraternity signed by Francis and the Grand Imam of Al Azhar in 2019 called for an end to wars in the Middle East and for peaceful coexistence among nations, religions and races. 'This document is a cornerstone,' Mr Warsha told The National. 'It must be put into practice even more and be taught in schools and universities, and all generations must work to uphold it'. Religious representatives across the Middle East also praised Pope Francis's personal engagement to the region and his leading role in promoting peace, particularly in Gaza and Lebanon. 'We need a Pope who can help stop these wars, whether through spiritual or diplomatic means; the Vatican has an important political role to play,' Athanasius Firas Dardar, the Syriac Catholic Patriarchal Vicar in Basra and the Arabian Gulf, told The National. 'Pope Francis could serve as a model for the next pontiff,' said Archibishop Dardar, who travelled from Iraq. In November, Pope Francis called for an investigation to determine whether Israel's military campaign in Gaza could be classified as genocide. His stance was vigorously criticised by Israel, which sent a low-level delegation to his funeral, marking a low ebb in relations with the Vatican. His position on Gaza has also been divisive even within the clergy itself, and while calls for peace are expected from any new pontiff, such a specific stance is not to be taken for granted, members of the clergy say. 'He even called a priest in Gaza every single day, something that had never before been done by a Pope. He stepped somewhat outside the usual protocol and tradition,' Bishop Warsha said. Flaviano Rami Kabalan, Syriac Catholic bishop and procurator of the Patriarchate to the Holy See, said he remains confident any new pontiff will show special attention to the region. 'After all, the Middle East is the land of the first evangelisation, from where it spread to the entire world,' he told The National. The new pontiff is expected to face a series of challenges. Pope Francis's liberal positions, including efforts to reform the Church's central governing body through decentralisation and by giving greater roles to lay people and women, shook the Catholic Church deeply. 'He left a deep and complex legacy, with the idea that every priest should be serving – and not be served,' said Naim Khalil, procurator for the Basilian Salvatorians, a monastic order within the Melkite Greek Catholic Church. Although he was popular among the people, the late Pope faced significant opposition within parts of the clergy for breaking with centuries-old traditions, exacerbating certain tensions. In the Middle East, despite being widely cherished for his message of peace, he also clashed with the Eastern churches, known for their more conservative stances. Chris John, a pilgrim of Iraqi origin travelling from California, told The National he hopes for a more conservative Pope. 'I would say traditionally our values are a bit more conservative in our Chaldean Church,' he explained. His successor will also face the burdensome task of navigating between conservatives and liberals in a polarised church. But the "Pope of the People" knew how to address everyone, beyond the divides. 'He knew how to put on his Middle Eastern goggles,' Father Jad Kossaify said. Khalil Karam, president of the Lebanese Maronite League, told The National the succession marks a crucial moment for the Catholic Church. 'We are in a period where the church is questioning many things and he had the courage to address many taboo subjects,' he said. 'The Middle East needs a pope like him, someone with the courage of his convictions – even if it doesn't please everyone." The Vatican has said cardinals will begin the process of choosing Pope Francis's successor on May 7.
Rudaw Net
24-04-2025
- Politics
- Rudaw Net
Cardinal Sako praises Kurdistan Region's ‘civil' system
Also in Kurdistan Kurdistan Region dust storm to continue through Friday: Expert France praises Kurdistan Region's 'democratic' institutions French FM in Erbil for talks with Kurdish officials Calls for coexistence mark spiritual gathering in Erbil A+ A- ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Cardinal Louis Raphael Sako, patriarch of the Chaldean Catholic Church, praised the Kurdistan Region's system of governance on Wednesday as 'very positive' and one that promotes coexistence. 'The Kurdistan Region has a civil system, not a religious, sectarian, or quota-based one, which is very positive,' Sako told Rudaw on the sidelines of the Kurdistan National Prayer Breakfast, a large interfaith gathering, in Erbil. The event kicked off on Wednesday and drew hundreds of officials and religious leaders from the Kurdistan Region and abroad, with messages centered on peaceful coexistence and mutual respect. It will run through Friday. 'People feel free and safe in the Kurdistan Region,' Sako said, praising the event and saying it serves to 'strengthen relationships and coexistence.' Sako addressed the audience at the event, saying, 'There is no problem with religions, but with the exploitation of religion for political and economic purposes.' He commemorated the late Pope Francis as a 'significant and supreme human figure and a unique spirit,' praising the Pope's role in promoting peaceful coexistence, brotherhood, interfaith dialogue, and renouncing war. Pope Francis, the first Latin American leader of the Roman Catholic Church, died at age 88 on Easter Monday following a stroke. The Pope's death follows a period of ill-health that saw him spend five weeks in hospital with double pneumonia. The debate over who his successor would be began shortly after his hospitalization. In March 2021, Pope Francis made a historic trip to Iraq, becoming the first pontiff to visit the country. His visit included stops in Baghdad, Mosul, and Najaf, where he met Iraq's highest Shiite authority, Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani. He concluded his visit in Erbil, where he held a holy mass and met with Kurdish leaders. In Mosul, the Pope held prayers for victims of ISIS and visited other significant Christian sites in the city. Sako highlighted the continuing significance of the Pope's visit, saying it underlined the important role of religion in building bridges and fostering mutual understanding and peace. Recalling his last meeting with Pope Francis, the patriarch said, 'I remember the last time I saw him, he said: Iraq is in my heart.' Sako was appointed head of the Chaldean Church by the Pope at the Vatican and was instrumental in organizing the late pontiff's visit to Iraq. The Kurdistan Region is predominantly Muslim but takes pride in its commitment to religious freedom. In addition to its Muslim population, the region is home to diverse faith communities, including Christians, Yazidis, Sabean-Mandaeans, Zoroastrians, Kaka'is, and Baha'is.
