Today, Iraqi Christians of different traditions raise the Cross publicly in churches, towns and joyful processions. We are not simply survivors. We are living ancient Christian communities determined to remain and constantly building a future in our Iraqi homeland. We are still here despite the challenges. We belong here . We are one in Christ. The Cross will not be silenced. We are the voice of Jesus.

After a five-year interval, the Conference of Catholic Bishops of Iraq has resumed its meetings under the presidency of His Beatitude Mar Paul III Nona, Patriarch of the Chaldeans. This renewed gathering is marked by the joy of fraternal encounter and a shared commitment to strengthening the Christian presence, deepening ecclesial communion, and bearing a credible witness of faith to the faithful, in fidelity to the prayer of the Lord Jesus: “That they may all be one.”

For over a century, the chapel of the Upper Monastery of Rabban Hormizd has awaited the celebration of the Chaldean Divine Liturgy by a Chaldean Patriarch. Blessed and holy, therefore, is this hour, as we gather around the altar with our Patriarch, His Beatitude Mar Paul Nona, in this venerable monastery, sanctified by fifteen centuries of prayer, fasting, and faithful witness. From this sacred place has risen the sweet fragrance of holiness, enriching the spiritual heritage of the Church of the East and strengthening the Christian witness in the blessed land of Iraq.

The challenges facing Christians are not Christian issues alone but human ones. They are a measure of a nation’s ability and commitment to protect all its citizens equally. When a society struggles to safeguard one vulnerable community, it risks creating a precedent in which the rights and dignity of others can also be compromised. Protecting Christians, therefore, should not be about granting special treatment; it is about upholding the principle that every citizen deserves equal protection, dignity, and freedom. Every life matters.

Where the rule of law is weak, sectarianism inevitably gains ground. In that environment, Christians, and other vulnerable minorities, often find themselves trapped between violent extremism and a loss of confidence in the state's ability to deliver justice, security, and equal citizenship.

When young Christians are denied opportunities in employment, public service, education, or other areas of society, they are left with a deeply painful question: Is there truly a place for me here? Each closed door and missed opportunity can send a devastating message that their hopes, talents, and future may be valued more elsewhere than in their own homeland. For too many, this message slowly transforms the decision to leave into something far more than a search for better prospects; it becomes an escape from the frustration of feeling excluded, overlooked, and unable to fully contribute in the country of their birth.

The young people of our present and the future of the Christian community in Iraq gathered at St. Peter and St. Paul Church to watch a special video message from His Holiness, Pope Leo XV. In his message, the Holy Father expressed his personal love, care, and encouragement for the young people, inviting them to remain close to Christ through the sacraments as they participate in the Ankawa Youth Meeting. The Ankawa Youth Meeting brings together Chaldean Catholic youth from across Iraq, along with Syriac Catholic youth from Qaraqosh, for four days of spiritual renewal, prayer, friendship, and fellowship in Ankawa. His Holiness' heartfelt message provided a profound and inspiring beginning to this important gathering. The young participants received it with great joy and gratitude, assuring the Holy Father of their prayers for his ministry and expressing their sincere thanks for his fatherly closeness and support.

Message of His Beatitude Mar Paul III Nona Patriarch of the Chaldean Church Dear sons and daughters, Since the very beginning of the Ankawa Youth Days in 2013, I had the joy of being with you at its first gathering, convinced that young people are not only the future of the Church, but her living present and her ever-renewed mission. Today, after years of this blessed journey, my heart is filled with gratitude as I see that small seed has grown and borne abundant fruit in the lives of so many young men and women who have found in this gathering a place of prayer, formation, friendship, and the discovery of their vocation to walk with Christ and to serve His Church. Our joy is even greater this year because His Holiness Pope Leo XIV has chosen to address our young people through a special video message. This beautiful gesture is a visible sign of the closeness of the universal Church to her sons and daughters in Iraq, and of the confidence she places in our young people, encouraging them to be witnesses of hope and bearers of the light of Christ within their communities and throughout our beloved homeland. The Ankawa Youth Days are far more than an annual event; they are a genuine ecclesial experience in which communion is strengthened, faith is renewed, hope is rekindled, and young people learn to listen to the voice of the Lord amid the challenges of our time. The continuity of this initiative over so many years is the fruit of faithful service, generous collaboration, and the quiet dedication of many who have believed in the mission of youth ministry and have offered their time, talents, and resources with love and generosity. To all of them—our bishops, priests, consecrated men and women, lay faithful, volunteers, benefactors, and all who have accompanied this journey—I extend my heartfelt paternal gratitude, praying that the Lord may abundantly bless their service and make it ever more fruitful for generations to come. I pray that the Ankawa Youth Days will continue to be a beacon of hope, a school of faith, and a place from which young people go forth knowing Christ more deeply, loving His Church more faithfully, and bringing the light of the Gospel to their families, their communities, and our beloved country. Mar Paul III Nona Patriarch of the Chaldean Church

A Video Message from His Holiness Pope Leo XIV to the Participants in Ankawa Meeting AYM 2026 @Pontifex @Pontifex_ar

When Christian communities that have lived in the Middle East for nearly two thousand years shrink dramatically within the span of a single century, the consequences extend far beyond demographics. It is the gradual disappearance of a historic Christian presence that has profoundly shaped the region’s culture, religious diversity, and identity for generations. Such a transformation represents not only the loss of an enduring Christian presence, but also the erosion of a God-given living heritage that has been woven into the fabric of the Middle East since antiquity.

One of the greatest dangers facing Christians in the Middle East is not only violence, but the belief that they should survive merely on goodwill as a “preserved protected minority." Christians are not seeking special protection, they are seeking equal citizenship, dignity, and the full rights and responsibilities of every citizen in their own countries. Governments must uphold equal rights and the rule of law for all, while the International Community should support inclusive institutions and policies that strengthen equal citizenship rather than reinforce dependency or sectarian divisions. The goal is to ensure they can thrive as equal citizens, to have a real future, contributing fully to the social, cultural, economic, and political life of their ancient homelands.

Christian migration in the Middle East is not driven by a single act of violence but is shaped by recurring violence, insecurity, discrimination, religious persecution, political instability, economic pressures, and social factors such as employment opportunities and family reunification within the diaspora. Most do not wish to leave their ancestral homelands; rather, like all people, they seek peace, safety, stability, and the opportunity to build a real future. The legacy of ISIS continues to cast a long shadow, leaving many communities with enduring trauma and uncertainty. Addressing migration requires more than ending armed conflict. It calls for stronger protection of religious freedom and equal citizenship, improved security and the rule of law, economic investment and job creation, the return of stolen homes and public infrastructure, support for displaced families, education and initiatives that promote reconciliation and social cohesion. Together, such measures can help create the conditions in which Christian communities are able to remain in, or return to, their historic homelands.

In Palestine, the land where Christianity was born, one of the world's oldest Christian communities is struggling to survive. Generations of Palestinian Christians have endured conflict, uncertainty, economic hardship, and displacement, leading many families to leave the land their ancestors have called home for nearly 2,000 years. When Christians disappear from the Holy Land, the world loses more than a religious minority. It loses a living community that has preserved ancient traditions, safeguarded sacred sites, and maintained an unbroken connection to the birthplace of Christianity. Preserving the presence, dignity, and future of these communities is not only a local concern ; it is a matter of protecting a shared human and spiritual heritage.

The steady exodus of ancient Christian communities from the Middle East due to war and persecution should not be viewed solely as a church concern. It raises profound questions about religious freedom, minority rights, cultural heritage, social stability, pluralism, diversity, and the region's long-term social fabric. For two millennia Christians have made significant contributions to education, medicine, intellectual life, and commerce. Once these ancient communities disappear, restoring what is lost becomes extraordinarily difficult. We not only need your prayers but active long term support from embassies/consulates based in the region.

Sixth: Fraternity with the Sister Churches Our bond with the sister Churches is more than a relationship—it is a fraternity rooted in our shared faith in the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Though we express this faith through diverse traditions, rites, and cultures, these differences enrich rather than diminish our unity. What unites us must remain the foundation of our common witness. We are not isolated communities but parts of one living mosaic, each contributing to the fullness of the Church. No Church can flourish alone, nor can any single Church encompass all things within herself. The strength of the Chaldean Church is inseparable from the strength of the other sister Churches, especially in the East and in Iraq. In particular, our ties with the Assyrian Church of the East and the Ancient Church of the East are rooted in a shared heritage, history, and, God willing, a shared future. We are one body, and no external force should divide us. We will strive to remain close to the other Churches through genuine fraternity, cooperation, and common service. Our concern is not who is greater, but who serves more faithfully, lives more humbly, and embraces the other more openly. Installation homily Mar Polis III Nona

Fifth: Our Unique Identity We live in an age that often blurs identities, traditions, and values. In response, we affirm our Chaldean Eastern heritage as the foundation of our journey of faith. Our faith is rooted in a rich Eastern tradition that stretches back two thousand years. Our liturgy, rite, language, and customs shape who we are and give us a distinct ecclesial identity. This distinction does not place us above others; rather, it reflects our unique way of living and expressing the Christian faith. Far from isolating us from the modern world, our tradition enables us to engage it with confidence and authenticity. By preserving our liturgy, language, theology, and inherited customs, we safeguard the identity through which we share our faith and values with others. When identity is lost, values and purpose are easily weakened. Therefore, we embrace and preserve the fullness of our tradition, which continues to give life, meaning, and direction to our faith today.Installation homily Mar Polis III Nona

Fourth: The Faithful and the Youth as a Living Strength Our Church lives through her faithful and through all who serve with dedication in her mission: deacons and subdeacons, catechists, choirs, youth leaders, council members, and the many volunteers who give of themselves with zeal and love. It is through your service that the Church remains present and active in the world. We must strengthen these groups, affirming that their work is a true ministry of faith. The Church does not live in her leaders alone but in all her members. Together, you and we are the Church. The youth, in particular, are the Church’s vitality and hope. They thirst for faith and seek answers to the deepest questions of life. When they are trusted, heard, and guided, they become committed witnesses of the Gospel, steadfast in hope and courageous in faith. Today, our young people need to discover that they possess a distinct identity within the faith, rooted in a living tradition. By knowing and embracing this heritage, they will come to love their Church more deeply and become active and effective servants both in the Church and in society. Generalities do not satisfy the heart. We must remain firmly grounded in our tradition and identity, for it is there that our uniqueness and strength are found.

Third: The Clergy and Ongoing Formation I want to address our beloved priests: you are deeply loved and esteemed by us and me personally. You will always find in us a sincere and paternal concern for your lives, dignity, spiritual journey, and sacred ministry. We are all servants of the Church, and you are indispensable partners in her mission. Your challenges and ministry are among my foremost concerns. You are not merely functionaries, but apostles and fathers of souls, called to make the Church alive in the world. Your lives must be regarded as precious, reflecting the light of Christ in every dimension. Today, the Church urgently needs genuine paternal care for clergy and Religious. Priests, monks, and nuns should be treated as partners in ecclesial mission, companions on the journey, and consecrated men and women sent forth by the Church, not simply as executors of tasks. This also demands greater responsibility from the clergy, especially in ongoing formation. Quality must be valued over quantity, the inner life over outward appearance, with renewed fidelity to the Church's teaching and canon law. Formation begins in the seminary. We will give special attention to the Patriarchal Seminary, strengthening its educational, human, and spiritual formation, deepening its connection with the eparchies and parish life, and fostering collaboration with the sister churches so that ecclesial ministry is firmly grounded from the beginning. Installation homily Mar Polis III Nona

Second mission objective: today, faith can no longer remain merely an inherited tradition or a point of reference of cultural identity. We are called to cultivate a spiritual life that is deeply rooted, transformative, and fruitful in the world. Faith must be embraced as the very meaning of life, not only as a set of teachings or moral directives. When its mystery is truly encountered, life becomes more joyful, steadfast, and effective in shaping both the individual and the community. Our Church must strive to deepen this understanding of faith, presenting it as a foundation rather than merely an instrument, while clearly expressing its distinct Eastern Catholic theological identity. Our mission is not simply to lead people toward a goal, but to help them encounter the sacred foundation of life itself. From this encounter flows a renewed vision of life that inspires and draws people, just as it inspired our venerable and most illustrious fathers of our Church throughout history. Installation homily Mar Polis III Nona

We will have six ways forward in mission: the first is Unity in the Body of the Church, rooted in Christ’s command that “they may be one.” Our Chaldean Church is one, embracing all her faithful in their various communities: Chaldeans, Assyrian Catholics, and all others besides. This unity is not uniformity of opinion, but shared purpose: to live out the life of Jesus in daily life, ministry, and the Church’s mission. The Chaldean Church is one body, including all its faithful, whether in Iraq, the wider East, or the diaspora. Its continuity in its historical homeland is essential, and efforts must focus on strengthening its liturgical, pastoral, educational, and social presence there, especially for the sake of the younger generations, both at home and abroad. At all times defending the rights and identity of its people, Those in Iraq and the East are called to remain a living witness in their homeland, while those in the diaspora should see their presence as a mission of renewed evangelization. Both contexts are complementary expressions of the same Church. Therefore, much stronger and deeper communication and cooperation between homeland and diaspora are essential, especially among clergy, who must see themselves as members of one unified Church rooted in the East rather than in isolated communities. Installation homily Mar Polis III Nona