Iraq backs head of Baghdad-based Chaldean Catholic Church to succeed Pope Francis

Cardinal Louis Sako wins backing after pontiff's death begins process to appoint replacement

Louis Sako is the head of Iraq's Chaldean Catholic Church and an outspoken advocate for the country's Christians. AP

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Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al Sudani offered his “unwavering support” on Tuesday for the head of the Baghdad-based Chaldean Catholic Church to succeed Pope Francis.

Cardinal Louis Sako, 76, would be the "sole nominee from the Middle East" to replace Pope Francis, Mr Al Sudani said. He described the cardinal as "widely respected both locally and internationally" and said he played a "vital role in advancing peace and fostering interfaith tolerance".

The Vatican announced the death of Pope Francis, who was 88 and had suffered several ailments during his 12-year papacy, on Monday. Pope Francis was the first Latin American leader of the world's Roman Catholics and the first pontiff from outside Europe for more than 1,000 years, since the Syria-born Gregory III.

“We reaffirm our unwavering support for His Beatitude Cardinal Louis Raphael I Sako, the sole nominee from the Middle East to succeed the late Pope Francis (may his soul rest in peace) as the head of the Holy See in the Vatican,” Mr Al Sudani said.

Pope Francis's trips to the Middle East

President Sheikh Mohamed and Pope Francis exchange gifts at the Vatican. AP

Pope Francis and Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, during a welcome ceremony at the Presidential Palace in Abu Dhabi in 2019. Getty Images

Pope Francis arrives to celebrate Mass at Zayed Sport City on February 5, 2019 in Abu Dhabi. Getty images

Pope Francis, surrounded by shells of destroyed churches, leads a prayer for the victims of war at Hosh Al Bieaa Church Square, in Mosul, Iraq, March 7, 2021. AP

Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa Al Kadhimi with Pope Francis during a welcome ceremony at Baghdad International Airport, in Baghdad, Iraq March 5, 2021. Reuters

Pope Francis reacts during a meeting with Bahrain's King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa in the Sakhir Palace during his apostolic journey, south of Manama, Bahrain, November 3, 2022. Reuters

Pope Francis prays by the Western Wall on May 26, 2014 in Jerusalem, Israel. Getty Images

In a statement later on Monday, Mr Sako said speculation about Pope Francis's successor had begun as soon as his health deteriorated, with the names of cardinals from Europe, the US, Africa, Asia, and the Middle East circulating. "These speculations are normal and usually occur after the Pope's death," he said.

"What is published on social media is an expression of people's love and pride for those qualified to run for the office, but it does not, in fact, affect the election process," he added. He said he is one of 136 cardinals under the age of 80 who will convene at the Vatican.

Christians in Iraq trace their roots back to the beginning of the faith. The country has 14 recognised Christian sects, but two decades of conflict left ancient communities that were once a vibrant and integral part of Iraq's landscape scattered and in ruins. Pope Francis made a landmark visit to Mosul in 2021.

“Iraq has long been one of the most significant homelands for followers of the Christian faith, who have lived in harmony and brotherhood with other religious communities throughout history,” the Prime Minister said.

“Today, Iraq remains a land where all Christian denominations are represented – embodying a spirit of love and unity among believers of diverse religions."

Who is Cardinal Louis Sako?

Born in 1948 in the northern Iraqi city of Zakho, Cardinal Sako grew up in an ethnic Chaldean family belonging to the Chaldean Catholic Church. The religious community has had a presence in the city since the fifth century AD.

He was ordained a priest in 1974 and performed pastoral service at a cathedral in Mosul, northern Iraq, until 1979, the Vatican said. He later attended the Pontifical Oriental Institute in Rome and obtained a doctorate in Eastern patrology, a branch of theology.

Louis Sako was made a cardinal by Pope Francis in 2018. Getty Images

From 1997 to 2002 he held the office of rector of the Patriarchal Seminary in Baghdad. On returning to Mosul he guided the parish of Perpetual Help until his election as archbishop of Kirkuk in 2003. In 2018, Pope Francis made him a cardinal. He has led the Chaldean Catholic Church in Iraq and the world since 2013.

He has been outspoken in raising the grievances of Christians in Iraq, with an estimated one million having left in the past decade. It is difficult to know how many remain in the country but community leaders estimate there are fewer than 500,000.

Papal conclave

The death of a pope sets in motion a centuries-old ritual led by cardinals to elect a successor. The election is shrouded in secrecy, with cardinals forbidden from communicating with the outside world about what happened during the conclave within the frescoed walls of the Sistine Chapel.

Pope Francis died of a stroke and irreversible heart failure, Vatican doctor Andrea Arcangeli said in a death certificate released on Monday. It said the Pope had fallen into a coma before his death early on Monday.

His funeral will be held on Saturday, April 26, at 10am local time at St Peter's Basilica, a Vatican statement said. The cardinals have also decided that a public viewing of Pope Francis's casket will begin on Wednesday in the basilica, after it is taken by procession from the Vatican hotel where he lived during his 12-year papacy.