Pope Leo XIV has accepted the resignation of Cardinal Louis Sako, the Iraq-based Chaldean Catholic patriarch of Baghdad, ending his 13-year tenure leading Iraq’s largest Christian denomination, the Vatican said. Source: OSV News.
According to Vatican press office statement yesterday, Cardinal Sako’s resignation was accepted under Canon 126, Paragraph 2, of the Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches, which governs the resignation of patriarchs.
The canon states that the synod of bishops of the patriarchal church is responsible for accepting a patriarch’s resignation after consulting the pope, “unless the patriarch approaches the Roman Pontiff directly”.
In a separate statement released by the Chaldean Patriarchate, Cardinal Sako said that after turning 75 in 2024, he had discussed his resignation with Pope Francis. However, the late pontiff “encouraged me to remain.”
The cardinal said that he decided “in full freedom” to submit his resignation on Monday to Pope Leo XIV “so that I may quietly dedicate myself to prayer, writing, and simple service”.
“He accepted it, and I requested that it be officially announced today at noon, March 10,” Cardinal Sako said. “To prevent any misinterpretation, I confirm that no one forced me to do this; rather, I requested the resignation of my own will.”
In his statement, the cardinal highlighted his 13 years as Chaldean patriarch as “years of loving pastoral care, follow-up, and growing up” amid “extremely difficult circumstances” and “great challenges” for Christians in Iraq and the wider Middle East.
After thanking God, the faithful of Baghdad, as well as the bishops, priests and staff of the Chaldean Patriarchate, the cardinal said he would “not forget them in my prayers” and apologised “to anyone whom I may have offended”.
Acknowledging the difficult circumstances for the Middle East in the wake of the United States and Israel-Iran war, Cardinal Sako expressed his hope that the next patriarch will possess “solid theological culture, courage, and wisdom – someone who believes in renewal, openness and dialogue, and who also has a sense of humour.”
In the same bulletin announcement, the Vatican said Pope Leo had also accepted the resignation of Bishop Emanuel Shaleta of the Chaldean Catholic Diocese of St Peter the Apostle in San Diego.
Bishop Shaleta was arrested at San Diego International Airport on March 5.
Authorities in California charged the bishop with multiple counts, including embezzlement and money laundering, and one count of “aggravated white collar crime enhancement.”
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Pope Leo XIV accepts resignation of Iraqi Cardinal Louis Sako (By Junno Arocho Esteves, OSV News)
