Sako: keeping the presence of Iraqi Christians alive in the land of Abraham
The cardinal has dedicated his work to defending a community that is part of the country and its history. The principle of citizenship, fraternal but frank dialogue with Islam and the courage of ‘transparency’ are the cornerstones of his mission. Among the most significant moments was the Pope's visit to Iraq. For the Conclave, the hope is for a pope capable, like Francis, of ‘reading the signs of the times’.
Vatican City (AsiaNews) - A pastor for a persecuted community that has been fighting for years to keep the Christian presence alive in the ‘land of Abraham,’ demanding equal rights for all Iraqis according to the principle of ‘citizenship’ and advocating frank but sincere dialogue with the Muslim world.
Cardinal Louis Raphael Sako, Patriarch of the Chaldeans of Baghdad, since the time when he was Archbishop of Kirkuk - his appointment dates back to 2003, the year of the US invasion and the fall of Saddam Hussein - has experienced the difficulties and challenges of a nation ravaged by war and jihadism.
Nevertheless, he has responded with courage and fidelity, even welcoming Pope Francis on his first post-pandemic apostolic journey in March 2021, when Covid-19 still posed a global health and economic threat.
From that historic visit by the pontiff, which included a stop in Mosul, once an ISIS stronghold, and a meeting with the highest Shiite authority, Ali al-Sistani, a church was born in Ur, recently inaugurated, bearing witness to the common roots of the three great monotheistic religions: Judaism, Christianity and Islam.
Born on 4 July 1948 in Zakho, northern Iraq, he completed his early studies in Mosul before entering the local seminary of St John founded by the Dominicans.
He was ordained a priest on 1 June 1974 in Mosul, where he remained until 1979 serving in the cathedral. He then moved to Rome and Paris, where he obtained two doctorates in Eastern Patristics and History, before returning to Iraq as rector of the patriarchal seminary from 1979 to 2002. Called back to Mosul, the future primate led the parish of Our Lady of Perpetual Help until his election as archbishop of Kirkuk in 2003.
Ten years later, he was elected Chaldean Patriarch at the Synod convened in Rome by Benedict XVI, succeeding his predecessor Emmanuel Delly III, who resigned due to age limits. First as a prelate and then as the highest authority of the Iraqi Church, he repeatedly denounced the exodus of Christians and appealed to the central government and local administrations to guarantee them a future in their homeland.
Pope Francis elevated him to the rank of cardinal in the Consistory of 28 June 2018 and he is currently a member of the dicasteries for the Eastern Churches, for Culture and Education, and for Interreligious Dialogue, as well as being a member of the Council for the Economy.
Last February, speaking about the imminent inauguration of the church in Ur of the Chaldeans, the Ibrahim Al-Khalil Church, the cardinal described the place of worship as a ‘message’, a ‘sign of openness’ and an ‘international place of pilgrimage’ for Christians and Muslims. Like the Church of the Baptism on the Jordan and the Abrahamic Family House in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), it represents a ‘sign’ that ‘we need today’ because ‘they unite humanity and represent a meeting point for all religions.’
The multi-purpose building, which is also a social and cultural centre, is intended to be an encouragement to the Iraqi Christian community, which has been decimated over the last two decades, so that while in the past there were at least 1.5 million faithful, today only a few hundred thousand remain.
Moreover, the church in Ur recalls one of the most significant moments experienced by Iraqi Christians - and by the patriarch himself - in the last twenty years: the visit of Francis, the first pilgrim pope to the land of Abraham and messenger of peace, dialogue and hope for a community trying to recover from the jihadist madness of the Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS).
‘With his presence,’ said the Chaldean patriarch, “the Holy Father restored dignity and visibility to a Christian population that has been decimated over the last 20 years by war, displacement and forced emigration.”
“By coming among us,” he continued, ’he sent a message to the Iraqi people and to all the nations of the Middle East: no more war, no more violence. He has once again affirmed the need to respect human dignity and freedom, together with encouragement for the Christian minority, urging them to remain in their own land. Francis was a prophet for us who came to tell us to take courage, not to be afraid.’
In recent years, Cardinal Sako has experienced first-hand the challenges of a nation where Christians are victims of external interests and political struggles cloaked in religion, which have led him to take dramatic action.
The most obvious case occurred two years ago when the Chaldean primate decided to move the patriarchal seat from Baghdad to Erbil in response to the " deliberate and humiliating' campaign by President Abdul Latif Rashid to annul the recognition of the patriarchal decree.
This measure undermined the role and authority of the cardinal himself, disavowing a centuries-old tradition in order to strike at the highest Catholic authority. Behind the president's decision was a ‘power struggle’ launched by a self-proclaimed Christian leader who, supported by pro-Iranian militias active in Iraq, aimed to take control of Christian assets and property.
In an interview with AsiaNews, Cardinal Sako described the withdrawal of the decree as ‘moral assassination’ and the transfer of the patriarchal seat as an ‘extreme protest’. ‘I will return to Baghdad only when it is withdrawn,’ he added.
The matter was resolved between April and June 2024 when Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani restored “full powers” and authority to the cardinal.
“It was very nice to return,” recalls the cardinal, ’after having fought this battle, based on justice.’ This ‘firm and peaceful’ protest [concepts underlying the decision and which he reiterated several times and with force] shows that the Church ‘must not be afraid’ and must at the same time be ‘transparent’.
This approach, marked by rigour and transparency, has also earned him the respect and, in some cases, true friendship with Sunni and Shia Muslim religious leaders. It is a relationship that can be built by safeguarding one's presence and bearing witness to one's faith, without being drawn into proselytism, which is the approach of some Protestant sects.
In this context, Pope Francis' visit to Iraq was once again fundamental, as it “changed the Muslim mentality,” observes the cardinal, also providing the keys “to a greater understanding of our faith.” With a view to interreligious dialogue, he added, ’I think the meeting with al-Sistani can give a further boost. There is something moving within Islam, and the steps taken with the Sunni world in al-Azhar can be retraced with Shiite Islam in Najaf. A dialogue that is not based only on words, but on friendship and love. The Pope has sown the seeds; now it is up to us as the local Church and as Christians to water and nurture this seed.’
Cardinal Sako dedicates a final reflection to the memory of Pope Francis and their last meeting in October last year, when ‘he told me that Iraq is in his heart. A phrase that struck me deeply, because he spoke of the whole country, of Christians and Iraqis in general.’
‘The words of Francis,’ concluded the cardinal, who is preparing to participate in the Conclave, ’are also a call for the future pope: he must be for everyone, not only for Christians but also for those who do not believe. He must be a messenger of peace and brotherhood. Pope Francis has been able to read and understand the signs of the times better than anyone else.’
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19/04/2005
