New Chaldean Patriarch with NZ ties formally installed

Patriarch Mar Paul III Nona was enthroned at St Joseph’s Cathedral in Baghdad on May 29. As Archbishop Amel Nona, he was head of the Chaldean Eparchy of St Thomas the Apostle in Australia and New Zealand before his election as Patriarch in April.

During his inaugural address in Baghdad, Patriarch Mar Paul III Nona affirmed that the presence of the Chaldean Church in Iraq constitutes a fundamental pillar with roots stretching deep into antiquity.

He emphasised to the congregation that “unity within the Church is of paramount necessity”, describing the institution as a “single home that embraces all”, with its objectives united in a shared journey of faith.

Addressing the formidable responsibilities now facing the Church, the Patriarch spoke of both the psychological and practical dimensions of the region’s challenges.

“Fear is a natural path, but the real problem lies not in the feeling of fear itself, but in surrendering to it,” he stated.

He warned that when individuals fall victim to fear, they tend to withdraw and retreat into isolation, seeking a sense of security that may ultimately prove illusory.

Concluding his address, Mar Paul III reaffirmed his determination to move forward with his mission in a spirit of confidence, despite the prevailing harsh conditions.

He underscored a policy of openness toward everyone as the primary means of confronting adversity, signalling a resilient path forward for the roughly one million Chaldeans worldwide.

The Patriarch travelled to Iraq on May 17 from Australia, and the day after his arrival he received the apostolic nuncio to that nation, Archbishop Mirosław Stanisław Wachowski, who presented him with the book of ecclesiastical communion granted by Pope Leo XIV on April 24 affirming the status of the sui iuris Eastern Catholic Church, The Tablet reported.

Mar Paul III held meetings with religious and civic leaders throughout the 12 days before his installation, and greeted Baghdad’s Chaldean community at an event in St Joseph’s Cathedral on May 22. He also met Iraq’s Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi.

FULL STORY

Mar Paul III Nona Assumes Office as Patriarch of the Chaldean Church in Iraq and the World (By Mothafar Mzuri/Kurdistan 24)

Chaldean patriarch holds audiences in Baghdad ahead of installation (The Tablet)

Chaldean Church chooses Archbishop Amel Nona as patriarch, succeeding Cardinal Sako (EWTN News)