Archbishop Amel Nona, leader of the Chaldean Catholic Diocese of St Thomas the Apostle in Australia and New Zealand, has been elected Patriarch of the Chaldean Catholic Church.
The Synod of Bishops elected Archbishop Nona on 12 April in Rome. 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.
The election of the Sydney-based archbishop marks a significant moment for Chaldean Catholics worldwide and for Australia’s Iraqi Christian community, many of whom have fled conflict and persecution in the Middle East.
Australian Catholic Bishops Conference president Archbishop Timothy Costelloe SDB described the appointment as “a moment of profound grace for the Chaldean Church.”
“In a world scarred by conflict and division, the ministry of Patriarch Amel Nona will be a call to communion – within the church, across cultures and among all who seek peace rooted in justice and faith,” Archbishop Costelloe said.
He acknowledged that the church in Australia, especially his own people, would miss him greatly, and assured the new Patriarch of its prayers.
Archbishop Anthony Fisher OP also congratulated the new Patriarch, describing him as a “humble man whose first appointment as bishop saw him lead the Chaldean Catholic Archeparchy of Mosul after his predecessor was kidnapped and killed.”
“He himself was forced into exile after ISIS forced its way into Mosul in 2014. Since he arrived in Australia in 2015, Paul III has been a good shepherd not only to the Chaldean faithful, but a wonderful contributor to the life of the church in Australia more broadly.
“He is a man of prayer and deep faith in God’s goodness and while his election is wonderful news for Chaldean Catholics, he will be greatly missed locally. Please join me in praying for Paul III in the mission with which he has been entrusted.”
Born in the village of Alqosh in 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 a period of escalating violence, before his appointment to Australia in 2015.
His leadership has been shaped by the suffering of Iraqi Christians, particularly during the rise of Islamic State, when entire communities were displaced from their ancestral homes, as reported previously in The Catholic Weekly.
Australia became a place of refuge for many, including Chaldean Catholics now settled in Sydney’s south-west.
In Australia as an archbishop, the new Patriarch has played a key role in fostering unity and dialogue, serving as chair of the Australian bishops’ commission for Christian unity and inter-religious dialogue. His tenure has also coincided with significant growth in the local Chaldean community.
Chaldean vicar general Rev Fr Maher Gurges said the announcement was met with “overwhelmed mixed emotions” within the Chaldean community in Australia and New Zealand.
“We are joyful to have a wise spiritual father for the entire Chaldean Church around the world,” he told The Catholic Weekly.
“At the same time, we are saddened that our Australian Archbishop Amel Nona will be leaving to reside in Baghdad, where significant responsibilities await him.”
The St Thomas Chaldean Cathedral community in Sydney also expressed “deep spiritual joy and profound pride” at his election.
“We ask God to pour out his grace and blessings upon our newly elected Patriarch, that he may lead the church with wisdom and faith,” the community said.
For many Chaldean Catholics in Australia, the announcement was both joyful and bittersweet.
Ranin Kanno, a member of the St Thomas Chaldean community in Sydney, said she learned of the news through a message from her youth group.
“It was very exciting,” she told The Catholic Weekly. “There had been talk that he was a good candidate, and then he was chosen.
“It’s bittersweet, because it means we will be losing him as our archbishop, but it also means new leadership for our diocese.”
Kanno said Patriarch Paul III was widely loved within the community and had played a significant role in supporting young people.
“He’s very loved, and he’s done a lot for our church,” she said. “It has grown a lot in recent years, especially among the youth. That reflects his leadership.”
She said the appointment also carried deep meaning for Chaldean Catholics who remain conscious of the persecution faced by Christians in the Middle East.
“There is always that sense of what has happened to our people, especially in Iraq,” she said. “But here in Australia, we have been given the opportunity to practise our faith freely.
“That is something we can take for granted, but it is very important.”
