Pope Leo XIV has urged the bishops of the Chaldean Church to elect a patriarch who is a “father in the faith” and a sign of unity, at a time he has described as “delicate and complex.” He stated this during the audience granted to the members of the Synod of the Chaldean Church of Baghdad, gathered in Rome from April 9 to 15 to elect the successor to Cardinal Louis Raphael Sako, whose resignation was presented in March after more than a decade at the helm of the patriarchate.
The process of electing the new primate takes place in a transitional phase marked by internal tensions, the weight of the diaspora, and the difficulties faced by Christians in the Middle East. In this context, the Pontiff has framed his message around the need for unity, discernment, and fidelity to the Gospel in the face of current challenges.
A Patriarch “Not Apparent,” but Close and Prayerful
In his speech, Leo XIV emphasized that the new patriarch should not seek prominence or flashy gestures, but embody an everyday holiness based on humility, mercy, and purity of heart.
“The patriarch should be an authentic and close guide to the people, not an apparent and distant figure,” the Pope affirmed, insisting that authority in the Church “is always service and never hegemony.”
He also asked that he be deeply rooted in prayer and capable of accompanying the faithful amid difficulties with realism and hope.
Call for Unity in a “Controversial” Moment
The Pope has warned that the election of the new patriarch takes place in a phase “sometimes controversial,” so he has exhorted the bishops to let themselves be guided by the Holy Spirit and seek not what is useful according to worldly criteria, but what corresponds to the heart of Christ.
He insisted on the need to act with concord and charity, recalling that unity is an essential element in a patriarchal Church.
Denunciation of Violence in the Middle East
Leo XIV has strongly denounced the situation faced by Christians in the Middle East, pointing out that the regions where the faith was born are today marked by “absurd and inhuman violence.”
The Pontiff has criticized the use of war as a political instrument and recalled that “no cause can justify innocent blood.”
Likewise, he has demanded that Christians in the region not be treated as second-class citizens and that true religious freedom be guaranteed.
Defense of the Rootedness of Christians in Their Land
The Pope has encouraged the faithful to remain in their lands of origin, emphasizing that the Christian presence in the Middle East is essential for the entire Church.
“The regions where the faith was born cannot be left without Christians,” he warned, comparing their presence to the stars in the sky.
Call for Transparency and Responsibility
At another moment in the speech, Leo XIV asked the bishops for attention in the management of goods, sobriety in the use of media, and prudence in public statements, in order to avoid scandals and preserve ecclesial communion.
He also insisted on the need to care for the formation of priests and accompany the faithful in a context of constant trials.