Chaldean church elects Baghdad-based archbishop as new patriarch

Published: 2003-12-04

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope John Paul II offered his continuing prayers for peace, security and freedom in Iraq as he formally welcomed the new patriarch of the Chaldean Catholic Church, which has its headquarters in Baghdad. During an extraordinary synod at the Vatican, the Chaldean bishops elected Archbishop Emmanuel-Karim Delly, a retired auxiliary of Baghdad, to be their church's new patriarch. The 76-year-old prelate, who has taken the name Patriarch Emmanuel III, was elected Dec. 3. Later the same day, he and the bishops met with Pope John Paul, formally sealing the election by requesting and being granted communion with the pope.

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