Archbishop Amel Nona becomes Patriarch of the Chaldean Catholic Church, succeeding Cardinal Sako with a mission of unity and renewal.
Newsroom (13/04/2026 Gaudium Press ) In a milestone for one of Christianity’s most ancient Eastern rites, Archbishop Amel Shimoun Nona has been elected as the new Patriarch of the Chaldean Catholic Church. The decision came on Sunday, April 12, during the Synod of Chaldean bishops convened in Rome to choose a successor to Cardinal Louis Raphaël Sako, who resigned on March 10 after more than a decade of service. The newly elected primate, aged 58, has taken the name Mar Paul III Nona, signaling the beginning of a new chapter for the Chaldean Church both in Iraq and across its diaspora.
Born in 1968 in Alqosh in northern Iraq, Patriarch Nona is deeply familiar with the struggles of his people. As Archbishop of Mosul from 2009 until the fall of the city to the Islamic State in 2014, he guided a community shattered by violence and exile. His leadership in those perilous years and subsequent pastoral work among displaced Chaldeans in Europe have made him a symbol of resilience and faith for Iraq’s embattled Christians.
A Synod Marked by Hope
The Synod, gathered in Rome from April 9 to 15, was received in audience by Pope Leo XIV on April 10. In a warm address to the 17 participating bishops, the pontiff called on the Chaldean hierarchy to embody unity and humility amid trials that have tested the Church for generations. “May the new Patriarch be, first and foremost, a father in faith and a sign of communion with all and among all,” the Pope urged, defining the patriarch’s mission as a ministry of reconciliation rooted in prayer, realism, and hope.
The Chaldean bishops affirmed this vision in a statement released after the election: “We express our confidence that 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.” The note added that Patriarch Nona accepted his election in “a spirit of faithfulness and responsibility,” relying on divine grace and committing himself to the service of the whole Chaldean community.
Navigating a Church at a Crossroads
Patriarch Nona inherits leadership of a Church both ancient and wounded. The Chaldean Catholic Church, a direct descendant of the Church of the East established in Mesopotamia, traces its lineage back to the disciples of Saint Thomas the Apostle. Today it counts about 600,000 faithful worldwide—roughly half residing in Iraq—and maintains dioceses across the Middle East, North America, Europe, and Australia. Yet the exodus that followed the 2003 invasion of Iraq and the series of persecutions under ISIS have left deep scars.
His predecessor, Cardinal Sako, stepped down to allow the bishops freedom to choose without pressure in a Church long affected by internal tensions and political disputes. His resignation, described as an act of humility and reset, opens the way for Patriarch Nona to confront pressing challenges: the rejuvenation of ecclesial unity, the protection of Iraq’s shrinking Christian population, and revitalization of diaspora communities scattered across continents.
The Papal Mandate
During the April 10 audience, Pope Leo XIV spoke candidly about the responsibilities of the new patriarch and the bishops who surround him. The pontiff recalled the Church’s history marked by martyrdom, exile, and perseverance. “Your history is glorious,” he said, “but one that has seen grave trials—wars, persecutions, and tribulations that have affected your communities and scattered many faithful throughout the world.” Yet, he added, “It is precisely in these wounds that the luminous testimony of faith shines forth.”
Leo XIV’s message went beyond encouragement; it offered guidance for ecclesial governance. He called the patriarch “a pastor capable of listening and accompanying,” emphasizing that true authority in the Church “is always service and never hegemony.” He asked the bishops to be transparent in administering Church assets, responsible in their use of media, and prudent in public statements to ensure every word “builds—not harms—ecclesial communion.”
A Mission of Faith and Restoration
Patriarch Nona’s mandate begins at a delicate moment, both for his homeland and the global Chaldean community. Iraq’s Christian population, once numbering over a million, has dwindled amid conflict and displacement. In such conditions, the Chaldean Patriarch’s role transcends administration—it is pastoral and prophetic. His experience in Mosul, where he witnessed the destruction of centuries-old churches and the scattering of his flock, equips him to lead with empathy and resilience.
The synodal fathers have voiced confidence that his election will mark the “renewal of mission” for the Chaldean Church. The patriarch must now request formal ecclesiastical communion with Pope Leo XIV, completing the process that will affirm his position at the head of one of Christianity’s oldest traditions.
In his concluding address, Pope Leo XIV appealed to all Chaldean bishops to act as “tireless workers for peace” in a world scarred by violence and greed. His words, resonant with urgency, reminded them that “God blesses no conflict,” and that true peace arises “only through the patient promotion of coexistence and dialogue between peoples.”
As Patriarch Paul III Nona begins his leadership, his challenge is to translate that vision into pastoral reality—rebuilding unity, fostering hope, and ensuring that even amid exile and uncertainty, the Chaldean Church continues its enduring witness to the Gospel of peace.
- Raju Hasmukh with files from Vatican News and Asianews.it
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