Pope Leo XIV has accepted the resignation of Cardinal Louis Sako, the Chaldean Catholic patriarch of Baghdad, ending his 13-year leadership of Iraq’s largest Christian denomination, according to a March 10 statement from the Vatican press office.
The resignation marks a significant transition for the Chaldean Catholic Church in Iraq and its global diaspora. Cardinal Sako’s departure comes at a time when Christians in Iraq face ongoing challenges and uncertainty amid regional instability.
The Vatican said that Cardinal Sako’s resignation was accepted under Canon 126, Paragraph 2, of the Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches. This canon states that the synod of bishops is responsible for accepting a patriarch’s resignation after consulting with the pope unless the patriarch approaches the Roman Pontiff directly. In his own statement, Cardinal Sako explained that after turning 75 in 2024, he discussed resigning with Pope Francis but was encouraged to remain. He ultimately submitted his resignation on March 9 to Pope Leo XIV “so that I may quietly dedicate myself to prayer, writing, and simple service.” He added: “To prevent any misinterpretation, I confirm that no one forced me to do this; rather, I requested the resignation of my own will.”
Reflecting on his tenure as patriarch during what he described as “extremely difficult circumstances” for Christians in Iraq and the Middle East, Cardinal Sako thanked God and those who supported him. He apologized “to anyone whom I may have offended” and expressed hope that his successor would possess “solid theological culture, courage, and wisdom — someone who believes in renewal, openness, and dialogue.” He also stated: “I will respect him and never interfere in his work. I am confident that God will take care of His Church.”
Cardinal Sako detailed his personal assets in an unusual conclusion to his statement: “I do not own a house or a car, but my true wealth is my devoted service and the 45 books and many articles I have published. Remember me in your prayers,” he wrote.
Born in Zakho in 1948 and ordained a priest in Mosul in 1974, Cardinal Sako served as archbishop of Kirkuk following the U.S.-led invasion before being elected head of the Chaldean Church in 2013. In recent years he faced internal disputes within church leadership after Iraqi President Abdul Latif Rashid revoked recognition of his authority—a move some attributed to political interference—before Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ Al-Sudani later confirmed his standing.
The announcement also coincides with other developments affecting Chaldean Catholics worldwide. The Vatican bulletin noted Pope Leo had accepted Bishop Emanuel Shaleta’s resignation from San Diego following criminal charges against him there. Addressing these events on March 8, Cardinal Sako urged unity among believers: “not to allow division and discord…and to allow legal procedures take their course.” He assured parishioners: “I stand with justice…hoping that proper measures will soon be taken for the good of the diocese.”
