New Chaldean Patriarch addresses challenges facing Christians in Iraq
February 7, 2013: In an interview with the AsiaNews service, the newly elected Patriarch
of the Chaldean Catholic Church said that it would be difficult to establish a secular
government in a Muslim country today, “because they have a negative and pejorative
concept of the secular state.” Patriarch Louis Raphael I Sako said that he remained
hopeful that the ancient Chaldean Church could be a “bridge” between Christians and
Muslims in Iraq. He reported that during a meeting with Pope Benedict XVI, he had
spoken at length about the challenges of inter-religious relations in the war-torn
country.
Questioned about the continued exodus of Christians from Iraq, the
Patriarch said that the problem is “critical” but promised to work to maintain a lively
Christian presence.
However, the Chaldean Patriarch said that his top priority
would be to address the “state of chaos” in the Chaldean liturgy. He reported that
liturgical celebrations differ from diocese to diocese and even parish to parish,
and said that a reform and revival of the liturgy would be his primary goal.