Pope calls Chaldean bishops to Rome to elect new patriarch

Published: 2003-10-29

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope John Paul II has called the world's Chaldean Catholic bishops to Rome in December to elect a new patriarch after their synod in Baghdad, Iraq, reportedly resulted in a deadlock. The bishops, whose patriarchate is based in Baghdad, were to elect a successor to Patriarch Raphael Bidawid, who died in early July. "In his paternal concern for the venerable Chaldean Church," Pope John Paul has convoked a new synod for Dec. 2-3 at the Vatican for the election of the new patriarch, said an Oct. 29 Vatican announcement. The announcement said the pope was acting in accordance with the Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches, which specifies that if after 15 days a synod fails to elect a new patriarch by a two-thirds majority the pope may intervene. The 20 members of the synod met for more than two weeks in late August and early September without electing a new patriarch, said an official at the Congregation for Eastern Churches.

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