Arrival of His Beatitude Patriarch Mar Paulus III Nona to Erbil

In an atmosphere of faith, celebration, joy, and hope, the Chaldean Archdiocese of Erbil welcomed, on the morning of Sunday, June 14, 2026, His Beatitude our Father Patriarch Mar Paulus III Nona, at the beginning of his first pastoral visit to the Archdiocese following his election as Patriarch of the Chaldean Church.

His Beatitude was received at the entrance of the city of Erbil by Mr. Peshraw Sadiq, Minister of Endowments and Religious Affairs of the Kurdistan Regional Government, Mr. Omed Khoshnaw, Governor of Erbil, Mr. Ano Jawhar, Minister of Transport and Communications of the Kurdistan Region, and MP Kaldo Ramzi Oghna, along with a number of officials and public figures.

Upon his arrival in the town of Ankawa, crowds of faithful gathered in front of St. Joseph Chaldean Cathedral to welcome him, in a scene that reflected the love of the Church’s children and their deep unity with their Patriarch and spiritual father.

The welcoming ceremony began with a solemn procession participated in by deacons, monks, nuns, and priests, accompanied by hymns and prayers, before His Beatitude entered the Cathedral, where he was received by His Excellency Archbishop Mar Bashar Matti Warda, Metropolitan of the Chaldean Archdiocese of Erbil, together with Their Excellencies Bishops Mikhael Najeeb, Azad Shaba, Felix Shabi, Nathaniel Nizar, and Archbishop Samer Soro, in the presence of a large gathering of clergy, religious, and faithful.

The ceremony opened with a welcoming address delivered by Fr. Savio Handola, parish priest of St. Joseph Cathedral, who expressed the joy of the faithful of the Archdiocese at this blessed paternal visit, recalling the deep bonds that unite the faithful with their Patriarch.

This was followed by a speech from His Excellency Archbishop Mar Bashar Matti Warda, who welcomed the Patriarch on behalf of the bishops, clergy, and faithful of the region, emphasizing that this visit is a sign of communion and unity, and a manifestation of the deep connection between the Archdiocese and its Patriarchal Church. He also expressed pride in receiving His Beatitude in Erbil and Ankawa, a city that has become a symbol of hope and resilience for Christians in Iraq.

In his address, His Beatitude Patriarch Mar Paulus III Nona affirmed that ecclesial encounters are a grace and a gift from God, allowing the faithful to meet, deepen relationships, exchange experiences, and share the gifts bestowed upon each person by the Lord, in service of building the Church and society. He stressed that true communion grows when believers meet in a spirit of love and openness, placing their talents at the service of the Church’s common mission.

His Beatitude also expressed his gratitude to the people of Ankawa and all the faithful who opened their homes and hearts during the years of displacement and hardship, affirming that their generosity, solidarity, and accompaniment of displaced families remain a living witness to the authenticity of this town and its spiritual and humanitarian mission. He praised the role of Church and civil institutions and local residents in supporting and embracing those who suffered during that difficult period.

He renewed his commitment to continue working, in cooperation with bishops, priests, and the faithful, to serve the children of the Church and strengthen its presence and mission, calling for unity of efforts and collaboration in serving the people of Ankawa, the region, and Iraq as a whole, and for building a future rooted in the values of faith, hope, and solidarity.

This visit is part of the pastoral tour undertaken by His Beatitude to the Chaldean dioceses in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, where he meets with the faithful, clergy, monks, and nuns, and reviews the situation of ecclesiastical, educational, and service institutions, in order to strengthen the mission of communion, unity, and Christian witness in the land of the ancestors.