Louis Sako reinstated as head of Iraq's Chaldean catholic church

BAGHDAD,— Iraq’s Prime Minister has reinstated Cardinal Louis Raphaël Sako as the patriarch of the Chaldean Catholic Church, enabling his return to Baghdad after a year-long dispute with the president.

Cardinal Sako, a prominent Christian leader in Iraq and a key figure in Pope Francis’ historic visit in 2021, plays a crucial role in bridging the Iraqi government and its Christian minority.

Last July, Sako relocated to the autonomous Kurdistan region in northern Iraq after President Abdul Latif Rashid revoked a decree recognizing him as the head of the Chaldean Church.

However, on Tuesday, the church released a new decree from Prime Minister Mohamed Shia al-Sudani, reaffirming Sako as the patriarch and granting him responsibility for the church’s endowments and properties.

“I will return to Baghdad,” Sako told AFP, expressing satisfaction with the decision. “I am very pleased because the rule of law prevailed, which gives more hope to Christians about the respecting of their rights,” added the cardinal, who met with Sudani in April during a rare visit to Baghdad.

Prior to last year’s presidential decree, Sako had been engaged in a contentious dispute with Christian lawmaker Rayan al-Kildani, leader of the Babylon Movement, whose armed wing is part of the Hashed al-Shaabi network. This network of predominantly pro-Iran paramilitaries has been integrated into Iraqi security forces in recent years.

In a country beset by ongoing conflicts and pervasive corruption, Sako and Kildani have accused each other of illegally seizing Christian-owned properties. Kildani, under US sanctions since 2019, has accused the cardinal of overstepping his religious role into political territory, while Sako claimed Kildani sought to position himself as the sole representative of the Christian community.

Iraq’s Christian population has dramatically decreased since the 2003 US-led invasion that overthrew Saddam Hussein, falling from over 1.5 million to approximately 400,000 today. Many Christians have fled due to the persistent violence over the past two decades.