Chaldean bishops elect Mar Paul III Nona as Patriarch of the Chaldean Church

Chaldean bishops elect Mar Paul III Nona as Patriarch of the Chaldean Church

Archbishop Amel Nona, Bishop of the Chaldean Catholic Diocese of St Thomas the Apostle in Australia and New Zealand, was elected Patriarch of the Chaldean Catholic Church by the Synod of Bishops in Rome on 12 April. He has taken the name Patriarch Mar Paul III Nona and will now lead the global Chaldean Catholic Church, one of the Eastern Catholic Churches in full communion with Rome.

 

His election is a historic and deeply meaningful moment for Chaldean Catholics worldwide, especially for Australia’s Iraqi Christian community, many of whom fled conflict and persecution in the Middle East. Church leaders in Australia praised the appointment, describing Patriarch Paul III as a humble shepherd, a man of prayer, and a leader shaped by faith, suffering, and service.

 

Born in Alqosh, northern Iraq, in 1967, Patriarch Paul III was ordained a priest in 1991 and later earned a doctorate in theological anthropology in Rome. He served in Iraq, including as Archbishop of Mosul during years of violence and displacement, before coming to Australia in 2015 after ISIS forced many Christians from their ancestral homes.

 

In Australia, he became a beloved spiritual father to the Chaldean faithful and a respected contributor to the wider Catholic Church, particularly through his work in Christian unity and inter-religious dialogue. His leadership also coincided with strong growth in the Chaldean community, especially among young people.

 

For Chaldean Catholics in Australia and New Zealand, his election brings both joy and sadness: joy that the worldwide Chaldean Church has received a wise and faithful Patriarch, and sadness that he will leave Australia to take up his new mission in Baghdad.

 

The faithful now pray that God will bless Patriarch Mar Paul III Nona with wisdom, courage, and grace as he begins this important service to the Church.