BREAKING Chaldean Catholic Church Elects New Patriarch Archbishop Amel Nona - Replacing Cardinal Sako
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Archbishop Amel Nona Elected New Patriarch of the Chaldean Catholic Church
As released by the Vatican, on Sunday, April 12, the Synod of the Chaldean Church—convened in Rome—elected Archbishop Amel Nona as the new Patriarch. Choosing the name Paul III, he succeeds Cardinal Louis Raphaël Sako, whose resignation was announced on March 10.
The election took place during a week-long assembly (April 9–15) that included an audience with Pope Leo XIV. As is tradition, the newly elected Patriarch will now formally request ecclesiastical communion from the Pope.
A Leadership Forged in Adversity
The Synodal Fathers expressed deep confidence that Paul III’s ministry will unify the faithful and revitalize the Church’s mission. His background suggests a leader well-acquainted with the challenges facing the region:
Early Life: Born in 1968 in Alqosh, Northern Iraq.
Archbishop of Mosul: Appointed in 2009, Nona became a pivotal figure for Iraqi Christians.
Resilience: He famously led his community through the 2014 ISIS invasion, managing the mass displacement of thousands of believers while maintaining the spiritual integrity of the local Church.
"This ministry will help strengthen the faithful in their faith, reinforce their unity, and renew the Church’s mission in bearing witness to the Gospel." — Chaldean Church Synod Statement
Key Facts at a Glance
| Detail | Information |
| New Title | Patriarch Paul III |
| Predecessor | Cardinal Louis Raphaël Sako |
| Date of Election | April 12, 2026 |
| Synod Location | Rome, Italy |
| Primary Goal | Strengthening unity and mission in the Middle East |
His Beatitude Paul III NONA
Patriarch of the Chaldean Church
Born: 01/11/1967 in Aqlosh – Nineveh, Iraq.
Ordained priest: 11/01/1991 in Baghdad.
From 2000 – 2005 studied in Rome. (PHD in Theological Anthropology in 2005 from Pontifical Lateran University – Rome).
From 2005 – 2010 He was appointed as the parish priest in Alqosh, served as a professor anthropology in the Babel College of Philosophy and Theology. Later, he was named as the Vicar general to the Chaldean Eparchy of Alqosh.
Ordained a Bishop: 08/01/2010 in the age of 42, he was the youngest Chaldean Archbishop in the world.
Installed as the Archbishop of Chaldean Diocese of Mosul Northern of Iraq from 2010 – 2014, since the consent of Pope Benedict XVI to his election on 13 November 2009 after the murder of Archbishop Paulos Faraj Rahho early in 2008.
Early in 2014, Archbishop Nona left Mosul with all the refuges who were forced into exile from Mosul and the surrounded villages after the violent attack of ISIS.
On 07/03/2015, He was installed Bishop of St. Thomas Chaldean Diocese of Australia & New Zealand.
Languages: speaks Chaldean, Arabic, Italian, English.
Known for his theologian depth and human vicinity from his people and courage in witnessing for the faith in the middle of challenges, by carrying the message of hope in the heart of suffer, realizing the image of Good Shepherd who sacrifice himself for the sake of sheep.
His Books:The word of God in the story of people. 2007
100 questions about love. 2008
Meditations on liturgical prayer of Chaldean Rite. 2011.
Via Cruces. 2012
Family and Society. 2018.
Faithful’s journey in the Bible, 2020.
The Sunday of Nature, Theology Study on the Official Prayer of the Fifth Sunday of Summer, 2024.
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