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| Foto Patriarcato caldeo |
Rome, October 16–19, 2026
To our beloved Chaldean faithful, sons and daughters of the Church, in our homeland and throughout the diaspora,
May the peace and grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
1. Ecclesial Communion and the Joy of Gathering Together
We, the bishops of the Chaldean Church, gathered in Rome from October 16 to 19, 2026, under the presidency of His Beatitude Patriarch Mar Polis III Nona, to pray together and reflect upon the life and mission of our Church in a spirit of fraternal communion and pastoral responsibility.
We brought to the Synod the joys and concerns of our dioceses, the hopes of our families and young people, and the challenges faced by our priests and consecrated persons, seeking the guidance of the Holy Spirit so that our pastoral ministry might be renewed in fidelity to the Gospel and in closeness to you.
Our gathering took place in an atmosphere of joy, following the Holy Mass Celebrating Ecclesial Communion, held in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican on Wednesday, October 14, and the Divine Liturgy according to our Chaldean Rite, presided over by His Beatitude our Patriarch at St. Peter’s Basilica on Thursday, October 15. Both celebrations brought together bishops, priests, and faithful from around the world.
Together, we experienced the beauty of our Church united around the Lord’s altar, offering its prayers and sacred hymns of the Eastern liturgical tradition in the heart of the Catholic Church.
With gratitude to all who shared in these joyful celebrations, we renew our filial love for His Holiness Pope Leo XIV and assure him of our continued prayers. We thank God for his discharge from the hospital and pray for his complete recovery, lasting good health, and renewed strength as he continues his apostolic ministry.
2. Remembering Our Brother Archbishop Sabri Anar in the Hope of the Resurrection
During the Synod, we received with profound sorrow the news that our beloved brother, Archbishop Sabri Anar, Chaldean Archbishop of Diyarbakir, Turkey, was called to eternal rest on the morning of Saturday, October 17, 2026, in France, following a period of illness.
As we mourn the loss of a brother and fellow servant in ministry, we remember with gratitude his priestly service in France and his episcopal ministry in Turkey, and we offer our prayers for the repose of his soul.
We unite in love and solidarity with his family, the priests and faithful of his archdiocese, and all his loved ones. We also express our gratitude to all who cared for him during his illness, praying that the Risen Christ may welcome him into His light and peace and grant everyone the consolation of faith and the hope of the Resurrection.
3. Organizing Church Life and Renewing Pastoral Ministry
Guided by our shared responsibility for the life and mission of the Church, we reflected on its pastoral, spiritual, and administrative affairs. The Synod approved the establishment of its committees and appointed their chairpersons to strengthen collaboration, coordinate efforts, and ensure effective follow-up. Working in cooperation with the dioceses and drawing upon the experience of priests, consecrated persons, and the faithful, these committees will contribute to the preparation of studies and initiatives that respond to the needs of our Church.
We also addressed the role of the Permanent Synod and the completion of its canonical membership, as well as the review of ecclesiastical regulations and particular law. Furthermore, we examined the draft Liturgical Directory, with a view to further study and consultation with priests and deacons throughout the dioceses.
We devoted particular attention to our Chaldean liturgical heritage, seeking to preserve the sacredness, fidelity, and beauty of our liturgical celebrations, while deepening the understanding of the liturgy and encouraging conscious participation in prayer and the sacraments, so that they may bear fruit in renewed Christian life and growth in love and reconciliation.
We also discussed the circumstances of our dioceses and their need for shepherds, along with matters concerning episcopal ministry, retirement, and the procedures for the selection of bishops. With gratitude, we recalled the dedication of our brother bishops and their many years of service, affirming that pastoral ministry is a sacred responsibility that draws its strength from a personal relationship with Christ and is lived out through humility, attentive listening, and closeness to the people.
4. Formation and Pastoral Accompaniment of Our Communities in the Homeland and the Diaspora
The life of our priests and their human, spiritual, theological, and pastoral formation were central to our discussions, alongside matters concerning the Patriarchal Seminary and the accompaniment of those discerning a vocation to the priesthood.
We express our gratitude to our priests for their tireless daily service and encourage them to remain steadfast in prayer, deepen their priestly fraternity, and devote themselves to ongoing formation. We also express our appreciation to our religious orders and consecrated men and women for their witness and service, and invite families and parishes to nurture vocations and accompany those who are called through prayer.
To our families and young people, we extend a message of paternal love: your concerns about employment, stability, education, and the future remain close to our hearts and are ever present in our prayers and pastoral responsibility. We desire our parishes to be places of prayer, attentive listening, and pastoral accompaniment, where everyone finds a place and where young people actively contribute to parish life through their talents, questions, and initiatives. We encourage families to cultivate a spirit of prayer, dialogue, and forgiveness within their homes.
We also addressed the needs of our communities throughout the diaspora, particularly in Europe, and the importance of organizing their pastoral care in cooperation with the local Churches. We encourage our faithful abroad to preserve their faith, heritage, language, and bonds with their Mother Church, while actively participating in the societies in which they live.
5. Solidarity and the Service of Peace
In discussing ways to strengthen the stability of our dioceses and develop their projects, we affirmed that the Church’s resources are a sacred trust to be managed with wisdom and transparency, and directed toward serving the faithful, caring for those in need, and supporting education, formation, and pastoral ministry.
We express our gratitude to all who support this mission through their work, expertise, and generosity, and call for greater solidarity among our dioceses in the homeland and throughout the diaspora, with particular attention to communities facing the greatest needs.
From Rome, we offer our prayers for Iraq and all the countries where our faithful live, and for peace throughout the Middle East and the world. We call for the rejection of violence, respect for human dignity and rights, and the promotion of citizenship and peaceful coexistence.
We urge our communities to preserve their unity through sincere dialogue and mutual respect, ensuring that our words and actions, both in personal encounters and on social media, contribute to building bridges and fostering reconciliation.
We return to our dioceses committed to following up on the matters we have discussed and the decisions we have made, relying on your prayers and cooperation. We entrust our Church to the protection of the Blessed Virgin Mary and seek the intercession of Saints Mar Thomas, Mar Addai, and Mar Mari, so that together we may continue our journey, faithful to the Gospel and steadfast in love and hope.
Archbishop Felix Saeed Shabi
Secretary – General of the Chaldean Synod Rome, October 19, 2026
Secretary – General of the Chaldean Synod Rome, October 19, 2026
