www.byzcath.org Forums General Discussions Town Hall Chaldean Synod in Iraq Aims to Elect New Patriarch

BAGHDAD, Iraq, AUG. 19, 2003 (Zenit.org).- A synod of the Chaldean Church opened here, with an eye toward electing a new patriarch.

The 22 participant bishops must appoint the successor of Patriarch Raphael Bidawid, who died on July 7.

"After years of marginalization and absence from social life, the Chaldean Catholic community, under the guidance of the new patriarch, wishes to contribute to the future of Iraq," Vatican Radio explained, when reporting on today's event.

Some Christians fear that radical Shiites are exerting pressure to establish an Islamic theocracy in postwar Iraq.

There are 800,000 Christians in Iraq, constituting about 3% of the population. Among them, Chaldean Catholics constitute over 70%. The See of the Chaldean Patriarchate and the largest Chaldean community are in Baghdad, numbering more than 350,000 faithful.

The Chaldean Church is dedicated particularly to catechesis, education and aid to the Christian and Muslim poor.

The official language of Chaldean liturgy is Aramaic. There are Chaldean communities of the diaspora in America, Europe and Oceania. In 2000, a representation of the Chaldean Church before the Holy See was instituted in Rome.
ZE03081907

Anyone know if there is any participation or observation by any Bishops or representatives of the Assyrian Church of the East?

David Ignatius DTBrown@aol.com

Dear Yuhannon (or anyone else),

Once elected, will the Patriarch-elect need some sort of confirmation from Rome?

Is this Church one of the 22(?) sui juris Churches in the Catholic Communion of Churches?

Thanks (still learning).

In Christ,
Andrew

Hi Andrew,


Yes, and Yes.

Shalom,
Memo.

Andrew,

No and Yes.

Once elected a Patriarch is Patriarch and is enthroned by his Synod. He then petitions the Pope of Rome for Ecclesial Communion, not for confirmation of his election.

On the otherhand, a Major Archbishop must petition the Pope for confirmation of his election before his Synod can enthrone him.

A subtle distintiction but an important one. The Pope can reject a candidate elected Major Archbishop and require a new election. He cannot do so for a Patriarch. He could only refuse communion with him and thereby create a schism.

In Christ,
Subdeacon Lance

Dear Yuhannon,

You stated in another thread that there was a rumor the Chaldean synod would elect the Patriarch of the Assyrian Church of the East as the Chaldean Catholic Patriarch. Do you think this will come to pass? Thank you.

In Christ,
Anthony

Dear Friends:


Yes, Subdeacon Lance is absolutely correct!

Heads of the current 6 Patriarchal Churches (Armenians, Chaldeans, Copts, Maronites, Melkites, and Syrians--the UGCC and the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church are, still, considered by the Vatican as Major Archbishoprics--) in the Catholic communion are elected by their respective Holy Synods, without interference from the Vatican(!), and the elected Patriarch, after installation, should then seek communion with the See of Peter.

(I am unsure whether a "schism" would necessarily result if the Pope refuses communion. Lance, can you please discuss this further?)

What struck me most was the fact that the official language of the Chaldean liturgy is in Aramaic, reputedly the language spoken by Our Lord.

Yuhannon, can you enlighten us on this "unique" circumstance?

Thanks to both of you.

Amado

Amado,

I don't think it likley to ever happen, but what else would you call it if the Pope would refuse communion with a duly elected patriarch. Perhaps cessation of communion is a better discription? It would seem the Pope has conceded he must accept who is elected because he approved and promulagted the CCEO. It also explains why he is so hesitant to grant this status to other Churches. Is it not odd that the two largest Eastern Catholic Churches (Ukrainian and Syro-Malabar) have their petitions for patriarchal status on the back burner and languish in the semi-patriarchal status of major archepiscopate?

In Christ,
Subdeacon Lance