Cardinal Louis Raphael Sako Reinstated as Chaldean Patriarch by Iraq’s Prime Minister
After a year-long dispute with the President of Iraq, Cardinal Louis Raphael Sako has been reinstated as the patriarch of the Chaldean Catholic church by Prime Minister Mohamed Shia Al-Sudani. This move paves the way for Sako’s return to Baghdad, where he serves as a key interlocutor between the Iraqi government and the Christian minority.
Following the cancellation of a decree recognizing Sako as the head of the Chaldean Church, he had left Baghdad and settled in the Kurdistan region. However, with the recent decree from the Prime Minister, Sako expressed his intention to return to Baghdad, emphasizing the importance of the rule of law in respecting the rights of Christians in Iraq.
The reinstatement comes after months of conflict between Sako and Christian lawmaker Rayan Al-Kildani, with both parties accusing each other of seizing Christian-owned properties. Despite the challenges faced by Iraq’s Christian population, the reinstatement of Cardinal Sako brings hope for the community’s future amid ongoing conflicts and declining numbers.