The Assembly of Catholic Ordinaries of the Holy Land sends congratulations to the new Patriarch of the Chaldean Catholic Church, Archbishop Louis Sako.
February 4, 2013
His Beatitude Louis Sako Patriarch of Babylon of the Chaldeans P.O.B. 6112 – Al-Mansour BAGHDAD / Iraq
Your Beatitude,
The Members of the Assembly of Catholic Ordinaries of the Holy Land , with Patriarch Fouad Twal, president and with the Papal representatives in Jordan, Israel and Palestine, rejoice in your election as Patriarch of the Chaldean Catholic Church.
This is not not a surprise to all who know you in person or through the media, and for those who appreciated your work as Metropolitan Archbishop of Kirkuk, for reconciliation and peace in a precarious and very challenging situation.
Prior to the meeting of the Holy Synod, you declared to Vatican Radio: “We need a leader who will help us see the future and who brings the people together.” This desire has become the life of the program of the new Chaldean Patriarch.
Beatitude, the prophetic dimension of your program propels you to persevere to the end without fear, to work in fellowship with the Bishops of your Church and with the members of the Assembly of Catholic Bishops of Iraq, to have a common vision on the present and future situation.
The ecclesial dimension that you invoked, will bring you to offer yourself for the good of all Christians in Iraq and the Middle East. The many opportunities to work with all men of goodwill, be they Christian, Sunni, Shiite or Kurdish, cannot fail.
Beatitude, we, the pastors of the Church of God in the Middle East, express our closeness that becomes a prayer on Calvary and the tomb of the Resurrection. We pledge to continue to provide Iraqi refugees in our midst, spiritual support and warm hospitality
Always move forward, without hesitation or doubt. Mabrouk.
+ Fouad TWAL Patriarch of Jerusalem of the Latins President, ACOHL
+ George LINGUA Apostolic Nuncio to Jordan
+ Giuseppe LAZZAROTTO Apostolic Delegate in Jerusalem and Palestine Apostolic Nuncio to Israel and Cyprus
+ Michel SABBAH Patriarch Emeritus of the Latins
+ Elias CHACOUR Greek Melkite Catholic Archbishop of Akka Vice President, ACOHL
+ Yaser Al-AYYASH Greek Melkite Catholic Archbishop of Petra and Philadelphia
+ Boutros MOUALLEM Greek Melkite Catholic Archbishop Emeritus of Akka
+ Moussa EL-HAGE Maronite Archbishop of Haifa Maronite Patriarchal Vicar of Jerusalem, Palestine, Jordan
+ Gregoire Pierre MELKI Syrian Catholic Patriarchal Exarch – Jerusalem
+ Joseph Jules ZEREY Greek Melkite Catholic Patriarchal Vicar of Jerusalem
+Youssef Antoine SOUEIF Maronite Archbishop of Cyprus
+ Maroun LAHHAM Latin Patriarchal Vicar for Jordan
+ Giacinto-Boulos MARCUZZO Latin Patriarchal Vicar for Israel
+ William SHOMALI Latin Patriarchal Vicar for Jerusalem
+ Kamal-Hanna BATHISH Auxiliary Bishop Emeritus
+ Selim SAYEGH Auxiliary Bishop Emeritus
+Jean SLEIMAN Latin Archbishop of Baghdad Greek Melkite Catholic Administrator in Jordan
Rt. Rev. Arch Joseph KELEKIAN Armenian Catholic Patriarchal Exarch of Jerusalem and Amman
Very Rev. Pierbattista PIZZABALLA, O.F.M. Custos of the Holy Land
Rev. David NEUHAUS, S.J. Patriarchal Vicar for Hebrew-speaking Catholic Vicariate
Rev. Evencio HERRERA DIAZ, O.F.M. Latin Patriarchal Vicar for Cyprus
Rev. Raymond MOUSSALLI Chaldean Patriarchal Vicar for Jordan
Rev. Peter FELET, SCJ Secretary General, ACOHL
