September 22, 2025
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| Photo Chaldean Patriarchate |
Chaldean Patriarch Cardinal Louis Raphael I Sako presided over the reopening Mass of Baghdad’s Um al-Mauna (Our Lady of Perpetual Help) Church in the Saadoun district, marking the completion of its restoration and renovation under the patronage of the Patriarchate. The ceremony resonated with both spiritual devotion and national pride.
The event was attended by Auxiliary Bishop Baselios Yeldo, several priests from Baghdad, and a large gathering of the faithful. For many, the occasion was more than the reopening of a church — it was a statement affirming the Christian presence and role in the heart of Iraq’s capital.
In his sermon, Patriarch Sako emphasized that “the true Church resides in the human heart,” adding that Iraqi Christians “take pride in their Iraqi identity and see themselves as an integral part of the country’s historical, social, and cultural fabric.”
He noted that the reopening of the church, dedicated to the Virgin, coincided with the construction of 14 modern apartments adjacent to the church, with their proceeds dedicated to the poor. The initiative, he said, was “a beacon of hope for Christians who have long endured marginalization, exclusion, and injustice.”
Patriarch Sako also reminded the congregation that Christianity in Iraq is not an imported faith. “Our Church was born and deeply rooted here,” he said. “We were the majority before the arrival of Muslim conquerors in the seventh century, and from here our faith spread to India and China.”
His words reclaimed a heritage spanning thousands of years, underscoring that the Chaldean–Syriac–Assyrian presence in Beth Nahrin (Mesopotamia) is not only religious but also civilizational and cultural — despite enormous challenges ranging from wars and displacement to significant demographic decline in recent decades.
“The presence of Christians in Iraq is a top priority for us,” Sako affirmed, “and we consistently emphasize our commitment to remain here and remain loyal, despite the many challenges.” He added that the Church continues to work “for peace, the preservation of diversity, and the promotion of dialogue with our Muslim brothers to reinforce shared spiritual and ethical values, and to uphold the principles of coexistence.”
For many attendees, the reopening represented more than a religious milestone. It carried layered symbolism in a country battered by conflict and sectarian divisions. While waves of Christian emigration continue, the event stood as a reaffirmation of persistence and rootedness, conveying that Iraq’s future can only be built by recognizing all its communities and securing their rights.
In this spirit, the Um al-Mauna Church has become more than a place of worship. It is now a symbol of endurance and resilience, a testament to the determination of Iraq’s Christian community to remain a living, vibrant part of the nation’s landscape, no matter the storms it faces.
