Challenges encountering the new Chaldean patriarch

In the photo: The new Chaldean Patriarch, Mar Paulos III Nona, meets with members of his diocese, namely, Mar Thomas  in Sydney, Australia. What is striking is the large turnout of Chaldeans and other members of the Iraqi communities which is a reflection of the deep wound in the hearts of Christians in Iraq and the East, namely emigration. In the case of the people of Mosul and its surroundings, including Alqosh—which is the hometown of the new patriarch--the emigration was not voluntary, but rather forced displacement, resulting from the attacks of ISIS and the aftermath events.

The new patriarch faces new challenges that are not unfamiliar to the Chaldean Church, just as his dear predecessor, Cardinal Mar Louis Sako dealt with the consequences of the waves of displacement. He conveys the stories relevant to Iraqi suffering to every part of the world and coordinated with the Latin Patriarchate in Jordan, through Caritas, to provide care and support for the displaced. Undoubtedly, the 2014 wave was the most recent and most devastating tragedy, yet it was not the first one for as a result of successive wars in Iraq, the Christian population has shrunk locally while their presence abroad has grown.

Greetings and congratulations are conveyed to the patriarch who steers the ship of the Chaldean Church amidst several waves and anxieties. Nevertheless, in partnership with his fellow bishops, priests, and the faithful, we hope he will be a notable successor to a notable predecessor, and that he will manage the affairs of the Church with a balanced sense that cares for both those who have left abroad and those who have remained near the Chaldean Patriarchate in Iraq.

Here are two observations, we offer through the "en.abouna.org" website, offered to His Beatitude the Patriarch:

First: Appreciation and thanks are conveyed for appointing Father Albert Hisham as head of media at the Chaldean Patriarchate in its capacity as the first patriarchal decision. This signals His Beatitude's respect for Catholic, Christian, and humanitarian media, a very positive sign. We announce from the Catholic Center for Studies and Media in Jordan our full readiness to cooperate, as I had previously informed our friend  Father Albert of this. He is an efficient priest who studied media at Catholic universities in Rome and is considered one of the best priests who can write articles in an outstanding journalistic style.

Second: Caring for our Chaldean and Iraqi brethren who have been residing in Jordan for years and who cannot return to their mother homeland in order to preserve their refugee status registered with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, and the resulting delays in obtaining travel documents or permanent solutions. This issue has a heavy impact on families stranded in Jordan, as it obstructs their aspirations and their children's future. It deserves to be raised again through His Beatitude's good relations with officials in Australia--a country where the new Patriarch served faithfully and which was his first stop after his election, in coordination with the Chaldean priest in Jordan, the kind-hearted and skillful administrator, dear friend Father Zaid Hababah.

In conclusion, we have great confidence that Mar Paulos III Nona is capable of facing these challenges with a spirit of comprehensive pastoral care that combines local presence with the support for the diaspora, in order to preserve the roots of the Chaldean Church and empower its members wherever they may be, and for many years to come.