Patriarch Paul III Nona outlines vision for unity, interfaith dialogue, and halting Christian exodus in Iraq amid ongoing regional challenges.
Newsroom (21/05/2026 Gaudium Press ) As the Chaldean Catholic Church prepares for a new chapter, Patriarch-elect Paul III Nona has outlined a pastoral vision rooted in unity, resilience, and renewal for one of the oldest Christian communities in the world. His official installation, scheduled for 29 May in Baghdad, marks a significant moment for a Church that has endured decades of upheaval, from persecution and displacement to internal challenges and demographic decline.
Speaking to AsiaNews, the newly elected patriarch emphasized that his foremost responsibility is to act as “the father of all,” fostering unity across bishops, clergy, and faithful alike. “The most important responsibility is to be a father to all,” he said, underscoring the importance of cohesion within the Church at a time when both internal divisions and external pressures weigh heavily on its future.
A Church Tested by History
Born in 1968 in Alqosh, northern Iraq, Patriarch Nona brings to his new role a wealth of pastoral experience shaped by crisis and migration. Since 2009, he has served as Archbishop of Mosul, stepping into leadership after the 2008 killing of his predecessor, Bishop Paul Rahho. His tenure coincided with one of the darkest periods for Iraqi Christians: the rise of ISIS in 2014 and the forced displacement of hundreds of thousands from Mosul and the Nineveh Plain.
Reflecting on that period, Nona highlighted the enduring message of Christian martyrdom. “Love is stronger than hate,” he said, invoking the sacrifices of Bishop Rahho and Fr Ragheed Ganni. “They sacrificed their lives for this message.”
Following his time in Mosul, he was appointed Eparch of St Thomas the Apostle for the Chaldean community in Sydney, Australia, where he served for over a decade. This experience among diaspora communities now forms a second cornerstone of his patriarchal vision.
Bridging Homeland and Diaspora
The Chaldean Catholic Church today counts over 600,000 faithful worldwide, but its numbers have sharply declined in Iraq itself—from more than 1.3 million before 2003 to roughly 300,000 today. Conflict, insecurity, and economic hardship have driven many to emigrate, expanding diaspora communities across Australia, North America, and Europe.
For Patriarch Nona, maintaining bonds between these communities and their ancestral homeland is a central challenge. “We have generations in the diaspora who know nothing of their country of origin,” he noted. At the same time, many first-generation migrants retain strong emotional and cultural ties to Iraq.
His mission, therefore, is to find “common ground” between these worlds—preserving identity while adapting to differing social realities across continents.
Unity as an Urgent Priority
The new patriarch also inherits a Church that has faced internal tensions in recent years, including divisions among bishops. However, he expressed cautious optimism, noting that the Synod which elected him initiated a candid and constructive process of reflection.
“It is simply not possible, in the current situation… for there to be divisions within the Church,” he said. The call for unity, reinforced by Pope Leo XIV, is both a spiritual and practical necessity as Christians in the Middle East navigate minority status amid broader instability.
Strengthening ties with other Christian denominations—Catholic and Orthodox alike—will also form a key part of his agenda, given the shared challenges faced by all Christian communities in the region.
Interfaith Relations and a Shared Future
Beyond internal cohesion, Patriarch Nona is placing strong emphasis on relations with the Muslim majority and other religious groups in Iraq. Drawing from his experience in Mosul, where he formed personal connections with Muslim leaders, he sees interfaith dialogue as essential to stability and coexistence.
“We must work on the basis that we are all citizens of this country,” he said, stressing the need to build mutual respect and understanding.
Although he has already received congratulatory messages from figures in the Islamic world, he prefers to keep those private. Still, their existence signals a degree of openness that may prove crucial in promoting peaceful coexistence.
Facing Fear with Faith
At the heart of his pastoral message is a simple yet profound motto: “Do not be afraid, believe.” For Nona, fear is a universal condition—experienced both in conflict zones like Iraq and in affluent diaspora societies.
“Ours is a world that lives immersed in fear,” he observed, citing anxieties ranging from violence and persecution to loneliness and illness. His response is rooted in faith as a transformative force capable of overcoming these fears.
A Community at a Crossroads
Returning to Iraq only days before his installation, Patriarch Nona described a population weary of conflict and eager for normalcy. “People are tired of war… of conflicts and tensions,” he said, noting a widespread desire to return to peaceful daily life.
For Iraq’s Christians, however, the stakes are particularly high. The continued exodus threatens the very survival of a community with roots stretching back to ancient Mesopotamia and the early disciples of Christianity.
Nona made clear that reversing this trend will be a central priority. “It will be essential to stem the exodus and ensure a presence in the future,” he said.
Looking Ahead
As he prepares to assume leadership formally on 29 May at St Joseph’s Cathedral in Baghdad, Patriarch Paul III Nona faces a daunting yet vital mission: to guide a historic Church through uncertainty toward renewal.
Drawing on experiences forged in both suffering and service—from the devastation of ISIS in Mosul to the challenges of diaspora life in Australia—he appears determined to lead with a message of unity, dialogue, and hope.
In a region marked by division and instability, his leadership may well prove pivotal in shaping whether Christianity continues to have a living presence in the land of its ancient origins.
- Raju Hasmukh with files from Asianews.it
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