Cardinal Louis Raphael Sako Receives Warm Welcome in Erbil Amid Tensions with Iraqi Presidency
Erbil, Kurdistan Region - Cardinal Louis Raphael Sako, the patriarch of the Chaldean Catholic Church, arrived in Erbil late Friday, seeking refuge after a recent dispute with the Iraqi Presidency over the revocation of a crucial decree that affected his official status.
The 2013 presidential decree, which had recognized Cardinal Louis Raphaël I Sako as the head of the Chaldean Catholic Church and custodian of the churches’ assets, was recently revoked by Iraqi President Abdul Latif Rasheed. The decision cited that the earlier recognition was not "legally based."
The move prompted the Cardinal to leave Baghdad and find solace in the Kurdish capital, where he was warmly welcomed by Kurdish authorities and high-ranking officials. Among those who greeted him was KRG Prime Minister Masrour Barzani, who praised Erbil as "the capital of peaceful coexistence for all religions and groups."
In a tweet, Prime Minister Barzani expressed the region's pride in being a beacon of coexistence, stating, "The Kurdistan Region, and the alchemy of coexistence that thrives here, is a source of pride to us all. We condemn the treatment directed towards the Patriarch."
We warmly welcome Patriarch Louis Sako to Erbil, the capital of peaceful coexistence for all religions and groups.
— Masrour Barzani (@masrourbarzani) July 22, 2023
The Kurdistan Region, and the alchemy of coexistence that thrives here, is a source of pride to us all.
We condemn the treatment directed towards the Patriarch.
Cardinal Sako's departure from Baghdad was also fueled by what he described as "deliberate attacks" from officials of the Iranian-backed Babylon Brigades, including Rayan Kildani.
Acknowledging the warm reception he received upon his arrival in Erbil, Cardinal Sako expressed his gratitude to the Kurdish people, ministers, and representatives of various religious and ethnic communities for their support during these challenging times.
During his time in Erbil, Cardinal Sako will operate as the head of the Chaldean Catholic Church, ensuring continuity in the spiritual leadership and safeguarding the churches’ assets.
As this situation unfolds, it remains to be seen how the tensions between Cardinal Sako and the Iraqi Presidency will evolve, and whether efforts to address the revocation of the decree will be made. The eyes of the international community are closely watching the developments in Iraq, given the significance of the Chaldean Catholic Church in the region's religious landscape.
