The bishops will meet between 9 and 15 April to choose a new patriarch. The former head will not participate nor vote so as not to "influence" the decision. This ancient Eastern Church, rooted in Mesopotamia, is currently experiencing a period of difficulty due to the exodus and war. The challenges of the last decade include the Islamic State group and the revocation of the presidential decree.

While the world’s attention is focused on the passage of ships through the Strait of Hormuz, there is another vital “economic resource” that the war is seriously jeopardizing: the labor of nearly 40 million foreign workers, who make up the majority of the population in many local cities. A prolonged crisis, with a massive wave of returns, would also have serious consequences for the countries of origin in South Asia, Southeast Asia, and other Arab nations.

Yesterday, the Chaldean primate submitted his resignation to Pope Leo. The decision was made official today in a statement from the Vatican Press Office. In his message, the cardinal remembered that he “led the Chaldean Church under extremely difficult circumstances and amid great challenges.” Also today, the Metropolitan of Lahore and the Apostolic Vicar of Quetta were appointed in Pakistan, with the two outgoing prelates exchanging sees.

Speaking to AsiaNews, the Chaldean prelate described a situation on hold, with schools and universities closed amidst great instability. Iraqi Kurdistan is once again impacted by foreign wars. People are  concerned about the future and are trying to avoid being dragged into the conflict between Israel, the United States and Iran. Christians pray for peace, remember Francis’s visit to Iraq, and receive support from Pope Leo XIV.

The chapel and ecclesiastical buildings of the archbishopric in Erbil hit by missiles and drones. Chaldean woman in Baghdad arrested for celebrating Khamenei's killing, faces four years in prison. Iraqi scholar tells AsiaNews: the country risks becoming an arena for external powers to “settle scores”. Institutional crisis fuels fears, emergency government needed.

Tensions have been triggered by the new map presented to the UN by Baghdad, which redefines sovereignty in a disputed area. Two strategic areas (Fasht Al Qaid and Fasht Al A'aij) over which Kuwait exercises sovereignty are in the spotlight. At stake are economic, historical and social issues, as well as the definition of strategic trade corridors.