Catholic Chaldean Patriarch Cardinal Louis Raphael Sako Returns to Baghdad, Iraq, after 9-Month Exile
Cardinal Louis Raphael Sako, the patriarch of the Chaldean Church, has returned to Baghdad, capital of Iraq. He was living in exile from his patriarchal seat since July, 2023. He had decided to stay at the priestly patriarchal monastery in the Kurdistan region after a government decision affecting the church (self-imposed exile). Sako’s return to Baghdad April 10–13 came “upon a personal invitation from the Iraqi prime minister,” Mohammed Shia’ Al Sudani, according to the Chaldean Patriarchate’s official website. Mohammed Shia al-Sudani's order for his return, is a key step towards reconciliation and religious unity in the country.
The Patriarchate Website wrote;
Cardinal Sako returns to Erbil in preparation for returning to his historic headquarters in Baghdad
His Beatitude Patriarch Cardinal Louis Raphael Sako returned to Erbil on Friday evening, April 12 , 2024, to arrange some church affairs in the priestly monastery and prepare to return to its historic headquarters in Baghdad .
His Beatitude began on the morning of April 13, 2024, with prayer in the chapel of the Priestly Institute, celebrating the Divine Mass with the students of the Priestly Institute and with His Excellency Bishop Thomas Merem, Father Fadi Leon, and Dr. Ikhlas Makdisi, Secretary of the Patriarchate. In his speech :
His Beatitude thanked God Almighty for his fatherly care throughout this period. He also mentioned with great gratitude the constant prayer of the Church for the restoration of his dignity, his freedom, and his return to his home, just as the early Christians prayed (Acts 12/5) for the release of the Apostle Peter from prison. “ Prayer was raised from the Church to God without ceasing for him .” His liberation was achieved by the Apostle Peter.
He also renewed his thanks to the Prime Minister, Mr. Muhammad Shiaa Al-Sudani, for his responsible efforts to achieve justice.
With gratitude, His Beatitude thanked the Kurdistan Regional Government for its reception, interest, and moral support.
Cardinal Sako returns to Erbil in preparation for returning to his historic headquarters in Baghdad
His Beatitude Patriarch Cardinal Louis Raphael Sako returned to Erbil on Friday evening, April 12 , 2024, to arrange some church affairs in the priestly monastery and prepare to return to its historic headquarters in Baghdad .
His Beatitude began on the morning of April 13, 2024, with prayer in the chapel of the Priestly Institute, celebrating the Divine Mass with the students of the Priestly Institute and with His Excellency Bishop Thomas Merem, Father Fadi Leon, and Dr. Ikhlas Makdisi, Secretary of the Patriarchate. In his speech :
His Beatitude thanked God Almighty for his fatherly care throughout this period. He also mentioned with great gratitude the constant prayer of the Church for the restoration of his dignity, his freedom, and his return to his home, just as the early Christians prayed (Acts 12/5) for the release of the Apostle Peter from prison. “ Prayer was raised from the Church to God without ceasing for him .” His liberation was achieved by the Apostle Peter.
He also renewed his thanks to the Prime Minister, Mr. Muhammad Shiaa Al-Sudani, for his responsible efforts to achieve justice.
With gratitude, His Beatitude thanked the Kurdistan Regional Government for its reception, interest, and moral support.
https://chaldeanpatriarchate.com/
The Christian community in Iraq has downsized significantly in recent years, mainly due to ongoing violence, persecution, and economic challenges. This has caused concerns about the future presence and influence of Christianity in a region of historical roots dating back nearly two thousand years. The community in Iraq, which numbered around 1.5 million before 2003, has decreased to an estimated 250,000 by recent reports up to 2023. The population of Iraq is more than 40 million.
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