Iraq: Cardinal Sako retires as Patriarch of the Chaldean Church

Given that this criterion is not mandatory in the tradition of the Eastern Churches, the Iraqi cardinal's resignation, in the midst of war in the Middle East, comes as a surprise. Cardinal Sako is retiring after 13 years marked by numerous difficulties, notably the ISIS offensive that drove Christians from the Nineveh Plains into exile in 2014, but also by moments of grace such as Pope Francis' visit in 2021.

The Holy See Press Office states that this resignation falls under canon 126 §2 of the Code of Canon Law of the Eastern Churches. This canon contains the following formula: “The Synod of Bishops of the Patriarchal Church is competent to accept the Patriarch's resignation, after consulting the Roman Pontiff, unless the Patriarch has addressed himself directly to the Roman Pontiff.” The wording of the message indicates that Patriarch Sako referred directly to the Pope.

“To avoid any misinterpretation, I confirm that no one forced me to do so; on the contrary, I asked to retire of my own free will,” Cardinal Sako said in a statement. He added that he had already offered his resignation to Pope Francis when he reached the age of 75 two years ago. He renewed his request to Pope Leo XIV on March 9, so that he could “devote himself quietly to prayer, writing, and simple service.”

This surprise announcement marks the end of the public life of one of the great voices of Eastern Christians. He became Archbishop of Kerkuk, Iraq, in 2003, and Patriarch of Baghdad in 2013. At the head of this Church in communion with Rome and mainly present in Iraq, the patriarch had to deal with the rise of the Islamic State in the country and the flight of his faithful abroad.

The architect of Pope Francis' historic visit to his country in 2021, he was the subject of more political tensions two years later. At that time, the Iraqi government revoked a decree recognizing him as patriarch of the Chaldean Church — a decision that was overturned in 2024.

“I have led the Chaldean Church in extremely difficult circumstances and amid great challenges,” Cardinal Sako said in his message. “I have preserved the unity of its institutions and spared no effort to defend it and the rights of Iraqis and Christians, taking a stand and being present both inside and outside the country,” he elaborated.

“In these difficult times, I hope that the leadership of the Chaldean Catholic Church will be entrusted to a patriarch with a solid theological background, courage, and wisdom — someone who believes in renewal, openness, and dialogue, and who also has a sense of humor,” Cardinal Sako wrote. He also promises, “I will respect him and never interfere in his work.”

“I wrote my will when I was still a priest and have renewed it several times,” Cardinal Sako adds, revealing his entire estate in a surprising move, as if to ward off any accusations of personal enrichment. “I have about 40 million Iraqi dinars (about $26,000, editor's note), $5,000, and €5,000 from my salaries during 52 years of priestly service, in addition to another sum that corresponds to my share from the sale of the family home in Mosul,” he explains.

The announcement of his resignation coincides with that of the Chaldean bishop of San Diego in the United States, Bishop Emanuel Hana Shaleta. This US-based bishop, accused of embezzlement, was arrested by police on March 5 as he attempted to board a flight to Europe.

According to the American media outlet The Pillar, in addition to this financial scandal, the Vatican also discovered evidence of sexual misconduct. A Vatican source consulted by I.MEDIA said that the bishop submitted his resignation to the Pope before his arrest. The Pillar claims that this happened in January, after a canonical investigation was opened.

The American media outlet also claims that Cardinal Sako insisted that Bishop Emanuel Hana Shaleta be transferred to an administrative post in Baghdad following his resignation. A Roman source consulted by I.MEDIA confirmed this version.

From his earliest childhood, Louis Raphael Sako was confronted with the tensions that divide Iraqi society. Born in 1948 in Zakho, northern Iraq, he moved to Mosul with his family after a conflict between Christians and Muslims.

In Iraq's second-largest city, he grew up among seven siblings. At the age of 14, he entered the minor seminary run by the Dominicans, where only French was spoken. Ordained a priest in Mosul in 1974, he went on to obtain a doctorate in Eastern Patrology in Rome and a doctorate in History at the Sorbonne in Paris. He later became rector of the Chaldean seminary in Baghdad.

On the eve of the American invasion in 2003, he was elected bishop of Kirkuk. The entire country then descended into violence and tens of thousands of Christians fled. Bishop Sako became a defender of minorities and devoted all his energy to reconciliation.

Elected Patriarch of Babylon of the Chaldeans in 2013, he saw the Islamic State invade Mosul and the Nineveh Plains the following year. Nearly 120,000 Christians were forced into exile. The new head of the Chaldean Church mobilized the international community to raise awareness of the ongoing tragedy.

In 2016, after the military defeat of ISIS in the Nineveh Plains, he called on Christians to return to these lands without hatred. A fervent advocate of dialogue with Islam, this defender of secularism and effective citizenship in Iraq was created cardinal by Pope Francis in 2018.

Three years later, he succeeded in bringing the Argentine pope to his country. The world was in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic and security in Iraq was very unstable. Francis' historic trip — no pope had ever set foot on the birthplace of Abraham — was unanimously welcomed internationally.

Within the Iraqi Churches, shaken by two decades of violence, this man, who had gained great notoriety in his country, provoked some jealousy, particularly during the Pope's trip, when relations with the Syriac Church were extremely tense.

With regard to the Chaldean Church, he wanted to bring about a wave of reforms to make the richness of the faith of this 2,000-year-old Church more accessible. Liturgy, catechism, clergy training, the place of lay people and women: there were many directions for change.

In July 2023, Cardinal Sako announced his departure from Baghdad for Iraqi Kurdistan to protest the Iraqi government's decision to revoke a decree recognizing him as Patriarch of the Chaldean Church.

This situation highlights the intense tensions that exist within the Christian community in Iraq, which now numbers only 400,000 faithful and is regularly torn apart by divisions among different groups. The crisis of 2023 thus arose from the conflict between the patriarch and the leader of a Christian militia close to the ruling power, the Babylon Brigades.

Finally, in June 2024, the Prime Minister reaffirmed Cardinal Sako as Patriarch of the Chaldean Church, placing “the assets of the Chaldean Church under his responsibility.” Admittedly, the gesture marked a warming of relations between the state and the Chaldean Church. But this episode more broadly revealed the complexity and fragility of Christian minorities in Iraq.

As a cardinal elector, the Chaldean Patriarch participated in the May 2025 conclave that led to the election of Pope Leo XIV. Although he has resigned from his office, the now “Patriarch Emeritus” remains a cardinal elector in his own right until his 80th birthday on July 4, 2028.