Successor Elected for Slain Iraqi Prelate

(November 14, 2009) Pope Benedict XVI approved the election of Father Emil Shimoun Nona as the new archbishop of the Archeparchy of Mosul of the Chaldeans. The Chaldean Catholic Archeparchy of Mosul is an Eastern autonomous particular church of the Roman Catholic Church, located in the northern Iraqi city of Mosul. The diocese comprises the city of Mosul. As is traditional in the Eastern-rite Churches, the election of the archbishop was carried out by the synod of bishops of the Chaldean Church, and then approved by the Pope. On Friday, a Vatican communiqué reported the Pontiff's consent to the election, by which he ratified the Chaldean Church's communion with the universal Church. Archbishop-elect Nona, 42, fills the vacancy left by Archbishop Paulos Faraj Rahho, who was kidnapped and killed in March 2008. Emil Shimoun Nona was born in Alqosh. He was ordained to the priesthood for that eparchy in 1991. Father Nona has been serving as vicar general as well as a professor of Babel College. The Catholics in Mosul expressed their joy at the news of his appointment. The community is hoping that he takes charge as soon as possible and that he puts order in the diocese and becomes an authoritative voice that can get Christian rights respected. At present Christians in that region "are caught up in a political battle full of episodes of violence. The new pastor now has the important task of rebuilding the Church and the life of the faithful, said the communiqué.