Latest news with #LouisRaphaëlISako
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.
Shafaq News
23-04-2025
- Politics
- Shafaq News
National Day of Prayer: Iraq's Cardinal Sako urges modern laws
Shafaq News/ On Wednesday, Cardinal Louis Raphaël I Sako, Patriarch of the Chaldean Catholic Church in Iraq and worldwide, called for legislative reform and stronger national unity to address internal challenges and rising regional instability. Speaking at the National Day of Prayer ceremony in Erbil, Kurdistan Region's capital, themed Toward Unity in Faith, Sako praised the Region for sheltering thousands displaced by ISIS during the group's 2014 offensive, which seized nearly a third of the country. Sako underscored that true sovereignty rests on democracy, the rule of law, and the strength of institutions, criticizing Iraq's dependence on archaic laws. 'We still operate under legislation from the Ottoman era,' he remarked, urging lawmakers to adopt modern frameworks that reflect current realities and uphold equality and justice. Rejecting the misuse of religion for political or economic purposes, he declared, 'Divine religions do not support extremism,' calling for revising religious curricula to promote moderation. 'Fundamentalism distorts the essence of faith.' Turning to regional crises, including the Gaza war and the rise of radical ideologies, the Cardinal urged inclusive dialogue and collective action to foster peace and coexistence.
Shafaq News
22-04-2025
- Politics
- Shafaq News
Middle East sole nominee: Iraqi PM al-Sudani supports Cardinal Sako's papal run
Shafaq News/ On Tuesday, Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani confirmed that Cardinal Louis Raphaël I Sako, Patriarch of the Chaldean Catholic Church, has been nominated as a candidate to succeed Pope Francis at the Vatican. On X, al-Sudani noted that Sako is 'the sole nominee from the Middle East,' praising his international stature and efforts in 'advancing peace and fostering interfaith tolerance.' He also underscored Iraq's deep Christian roots and tradition of religious coexistence, stating, 'Today, Iraq remains a land where all Christian denominations are represented—embodying a spirit of love and unity among believers of diverse religions.' We reaffirm our unwavering support for His Beatitude Cardinal Louis Raphaël I Sako, the sole nominee from the Middle East to succeed the late Pope Francis (may his soul rest in peace) as the head of the Holy See in the Vatican. His Beatitude is widely respected both locally and… — محمد شياع السوداني (@mohamedshia) April 22, 2025 Earlier, diversity expert and former UN adviser Saad Salloum reported that Cardinal Sako had officially been entered into the list of papal candidates.
Iraqi News
22-04-2025
- Politics
- Iraqi News
Al-Sudani confirms his backing for Cardinal Sako's candidacy to succeed the late Pope Francis
Prime Minister Mohammed S. Al-Sudani said in a statement on platform X obtained by the Iraqi news agency INA that 'We reaffirm our unwavering support for His Beatitude Cardinal Louis Raphaël I Sako, the sole nominee from the Middle East to succeed the late Pope Francis (may his soul rest in peace) as the head of the Holy See in the Vatican. His Beatitude is widely respected both locally and internationally, and he plays a vital role in advancing peace and fostering interfaith tolerance.' Al-Sudani also said that 'Iraq has long been one of the most significant homelands for followers of the Christian faith, who have lived in harmony and brotherhood with other religious communities throughout history.' The prime minister concluded 'Today, Iraq remains a land where all Christian denominations are represented—embodying a spirit of love and unity among believers of diverse religions.'
