Latest news with #Chaldeans
Calgary Herald
25-04-2025
- Politics
- Calgary Herald
Low advance voting numbers in battleground ridings may spell trouble for Liberals, New Democrats
Article content They voted in droves in St. Albert and Sherwood Park. The vote counts were healthy in Parkland County and Leduc. Article content Article content But in Edmonton, turnout was, well, kind of meh at advance polling stations. None of the nine Edmonton ridings finished in the top 100 when it came to advance-voter turnout, despite Elections Canada reporting a new record of nearly 7.3 million early ballot-casters nationally. Compare that to St. Albert-Sturgeon River, which had 30,250 advance voters, tops in the region and 14th-best in Canada. Shewood Park-Fort Saskatchewan had 30,205 early voters, 15th best in Canada. Article content Article content And, in ridings that are predicted to be hot spots on Monday night, the advance voting buzz was decidedly cool. In Edmonton Southeast, where Mayor Amarjeet Sohi is carrying the Liberal flag against Conservative Jagsharan Singh Mahal, only 15,459 people voted early, the lowest number in the region. That was only slightly topped by 15,787 early voters in Griesbach, where NDP Blake Desjarlais is expected to be in a neck-and-neck rematch with Tory Kerry Diotte. Article content Article content And, Edmonton Centre, with Liberal Eleanor Olszewski against Tory Sayid Ahmed and the NDP's Trisha Estabrooks, was third worst, with 17,351 advance voters. Article content On paper, there's a correlation between low early voter turnout and what are expected to be the tightest election-night races in the region. But, is it more than a coincidence? Article content Article content Chaldeans Mensah, associate professor of political science at MacEwan University, said the low turnout numbers are warning shots for Sohi's campaign in the southeast and the NDP in Edmonton Centre and Griesbach. Article content 'It's a call to arms for the NDP candidates if they want to survive,' said Mensah of Estabrooks and Desjarlais. 'They are not getting any help from the national campaign.' Article content He said the NDP traditionally does well at mobilizing its supporters. So, in an election where much of the country has shown more engagement in the vote, it's worrying for the New Democrats in ridings where the high-turnout trend is bucked, at least so far.
Edmonton Journal
25-04-2025
- Politics
- Edmonton Journal
Low advance voting numbers in battleground ridings may spell trouble for Liberals, New Democrats
Article content Chaldeans Mensah, associate professor of political science at MacEwan University, said the low turnout numbers are warning shots for Sohi's campaign in the southeast and the NDP in Edmonton Centre and Griesbach. 'Call to arms' 'It's a call to arms for the NDP candidates if they want to survive,' said Mensah of Estabrooks and Desjarlais. 'They are not getting any help from the national campaign.' He said the NDP traditionally does well at mobilizing its supporters. So, in an election where much of the country has shown more engagement in the vote, it's worrying for the New Democrats in ridings where the high-turnout trend is bucked, at least so far. 'For the NDP, it's bad news. It means they have to work that much harder to get their voters engaged,' said Mensah.
Shafaq News
25-04-2025
- Politics
- Shafaq News
Solemn tributes: Erbil's Christians honor Pope Francis
Shafaq News/ A memorial prayer for the late Pope Francis was held on Friday at St. Joseph's Cathedral in Ankawa, Erbil's Christian-majority district. The ceremony brought together various Christian denominations, including Assyrians and Chaldeans, and was led by Archbishop Bashar Matti. Worshippers gathered in a solemn atmosphere to honor the head of the Catholic Church, regarded by Catholics as the successor of Saint Peter and the supreme spiritual leader of the global Church. Earlier, a similar memorial mass took place at St. Joseph's Chaldean Church in Baghdad, where clergy and congregants prayed beneath a portrait of the late pope placed alongside the Iraqi flag—a tribute to his 2021 visit to Iraq. Pope Francis passed away on April 21 after months of illness. He had been hospitalized several times and died in his apartment at the Vatican.
The National
25-04-2025
- Politics
- The National
'He carried the Middle East in his heart': Arab mourners in the Vatican bid farewell to Pope Francis
World leaders send condolences after Pope's death Tens of thousands have flocked to St Peter's Basilica to pay their final respects to Pope Francis on the second of three days of his lying in state. Pope Francis, who died on Easter Monday at 88 after a stroke and heart failure, was last seen in public calling for an end to the war in Gaza during his final sermon the day before. He was widely praised for his dedication to the marginalised, for his humility, and for his commitment to interfaith dialogue. Some travelled from as far as the Middle East – the birthplace of Christianity and home to a mosaic of communities, including Egypt's Copts, Iraq's Chaldeans and Lebanon's Maronites – to attend the commemoration. Among them was Lebanese Father Antoine Dib, Superior General of the Basilian Salvatorians, a monastic order within the Melkite Greek Catholic Church, who arrived from Lebanon on Thursday. Father Dib, who knew Pope Francis personally and met him frequently, said the pontiff had a significant impact on the region. 'He always focused on peaceful coexistence and interreligious dialogue, as well as openness,' he said. Pope Francis's visit to Abu Dhabi in 2019 – the first papal visit to the Arabian Peninsula – where he signed the Document on Human Fraternity with the Grand Imam of Al Azhar, Dr Ahmed Al Tayeb, was widely seen as a powerful symbol of interfaith brotherhood. Father Dib said that Pope Francis first encountered Eastern Churches in his native Argentina, which is home to large communities from the Middle East diaspora. 'He carried the Middle East in his heart,' he said. 'He respected everyone, especially in situations of marginalisation and oppression. He felt compelled to be present, to share his message – a message he deeply believed in – centred on human dignity and value.' Father Dib said the Pope 'was very humble; truly, deeply humble. He lived like anyone else. Even in his funeral, he chose simplicity and poverty, because something greater guided his life: the love of God and of others. He lived close to the people. I think he lived like them because people could speak to him freely, without barriers.' Like Father Dib, many religious figures are expected to attend the commemoration, including representatives from Eastern churches in Iraq, Lebanon, Syria and Egypt. But the commemoration has also drawn faithful congregations. The Thursday flight from Beirut to Rome was full of Lebanese pilgrims from a local parish. The group had planned to travel to Rome for the canonisation of Carlo Acutis, a young Italian teenager set to become the Catholic Church's first millennial saint, but the death of the Pope changed their original plans. 'We didn't expect Pope Francis to pass away so suddenly. He was doing better,' Catia Hitti, one of the passengers, speaking to The National. 'He cared about Lebanon, stood against war and supported the deprived. He didn't care about the rich. He was humble: he washed the feet of inmates.' Pope Francis included women and people of other faiths in the Holy Thursday foot-washing ceremony – a ritual that recalls Jesus washing his disciples' feet before his death – a historic break from the tradition, which had been limited to Catholic men. 'Everyone loved him, both Muslims and Christians,' Ms Hitti added. In St Peter's Square, Karim Eltomy, 44, an Egyptian man on holiday in Rome with his family, said it was important for him as a Muslim to pay his respects to the Pope. 'I know the Pope was very valuable to Catholics, and for us, all religious leaders are important because we're all moving in the same direction, with the same intention,' he said. 'For us, he was someone who promoted what is right. What I see as differences between religions is far less than what they have in common that they share.'
Shafaq News
22-04-2025
- Politics
- Shafaq News
Iraq's Cardinal Sako among potential Popes: Who will succeed Francis?
Shafaq News/ The death of Pope Francis, announced by the Vatican on Monday, has set the Roman Catholic Church on course toward one of its most defining rites: the election of a new pontiff. As Catholics around the globe enter a period of mourning, attention now turns to the College of Cardinals, who will soon gather in Rome to choose his successor. According to the Vatican, the Church currently counts 252 cardinals worldwide. Of these, 135 are under the age of 80 and therefore eligible to vote in the conclave. Pope Francis appointed 108 of these electors during his pontificate, while 22 received their red hats under Pope Benedict XVI and five under Pope John Paul II. Cardinals are expected to begin arriving at the Vatican in the coming days. Once assembled, they will meet to determine the date for the start of the conclave—a highly secretive process rooted in centuries of tradition. Taking place within the Sistine Chapel, the conclave bars all outsiders and continues until one cardinal secures a two-thirds majority. The world will learn of the election through the appearance of white smoke from the chapel's chimney. While the Church never releases an official list of candidates, speculation has already turned toward several prominent figures. Known as papabile (potential popes), these individuals are seen as possessing the theological depth, leadership experience, and international standing required of a future pope. One name drawing growing attention is Cardinal Louis Raphaël I Sako, Patriarch of the Chaldean Catholic Church in Iraq. Middle East expert Saad Salloum notes that Sako's name has entered discussions, underscoring his global stature and the rising visibility of Eastern Catholic leaders within the broader Church hierarchy. Who Is Cardinal Sako? Cardinal Louis Raphaël Sako, Patriarch of Babylon of the Chaldeans, serves as a senior figure in Eastern Christianity and a leading voice for Iraq's Christian community. Born on July 4, 1948, in the northern Iraqi town of Zakho, Sako has guided his community through decades of political instability and conflict. He began his religious education in Mosul before completing advanced studies abroad. Sako holds a doctorate in Eastern Patrology from the Pontifical Oriental Institute in Rome and a doctorate in History from the Sorbonne in Paris. His academic background complements a long pastoral career, which included his service as Archbishop of Kirkuk before Chaldean bishops elected him patriarch in 2013—a decision confirmed by Pope Benedict XVI. His tenure has coincided with some of the most challenging periods for Christians in Iraq, including the 2003 US-led invasion, the rise of ISIS, and mass displacement from historic Christian heartlands. Sako has remained a vocal defender of religious minorities, consistently speaking out against sectarianism and government actions that threaten the rights of Christians and other vulnerable groups. In 2021, he played a key role in facilitating Pope Francis' historic visit to Iraq, a landmark moment for interfaith dialogue and a message of solidarity with the country's Christian population. In 2023, Sako relocated from Baghdad to Erbil in the Kurdistan Region following the revocation of a presidential decree that had recognized his role as patriarch—an act he publicly challenged, emphasizing the need to protect the Church's autonomy. A proponent of reform, Sako has advocated for the use of vernacular Arabic in Chaldean liturgy to make worship more accessible, while remaining committed to traditional Church teachings. In 2024, he reaffirmed the Chaldean Church's opposition to blessings of same-sex unions. That same year, he presided over the ordination of a married priest in France, in keeping with the Eastern Catholic tradition of allowing married clergy. Fluent in Arabic, Chaldean, French, English, German, and Italian, Sako has contributed to numerous theological publications and serves on several Vatican bodies, including the Dicasteries for the Eastern Churches, Interreligious Dialogue, Culture and Education, and the Council for the Economy. Pope Francis elevated him to cardinal in 2018. A well-known adage within Vatican circles cautions, "He who enters a conclave as pope, leaves as a cardinal." This saying underscores the unpredictable and confidential nature of the papal election process, which is not influenced by popularity or campaigning but is instead a solemn and complex deliberation. Currently, the College of Cardinals is considering 22 individuals as serious contenders for the papacy. Among the most frequently mentioned is Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle of the Philippines. Often referred to as the "Asian Francis," Tagle is known for his pastoral approach and has openly criticized the Church's historical treatment of marginalized communities, including LGBTQ+ individuals. Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican's secretary of state, is seen as a steady, diplomatic choice. Meanwhile, Cardinal Peter Erdö of Hungary represents the conservative wing, often opposing issues like marriage equality. Other contenders include Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo Besungu, who has disagreed with Pope Francis on issues like same-sex blessings, and Cardinal Peter Turkson, a Ghanaian known for addressing taboo topics. Cardinal Raymond Burke, a vocal critic of Pope Francis' more progressive stances, also remains a strong possibility. Meanwhile, Cardinal Jean-Marc Aveline, Archbishop of Marseille, has gained attention for his alignment with Pope Francis on matters such as immigration and interfaith cooperation, particularly with the Muslim world.
