A Great Ecclesiastical Celebration in the Chaldean Church: The Installation of Mar Polis III Nona
A Great Ecclesiastical Celebration in the Chaldean Church: The Installation of Mar Polis III Nona
Media Office
On the morning of Golden Friday, May 29, 2026, commemorating the first miracle performed by the Apostles, the Chaldean Church witnessed a grand ecclesiastical celebration with the installation of Mar Polis III Nona as Patriarch at St. Joseph Chaldean Cathedral. The ceremony was attended by patriarchs, bishops, priests from Apostolic Churches, and faithful from Iraq and abroad.
Among those participating were Cardinal Claudio Gugerotti, Prefect of the Dicastery for the Eastern Churches at the Vatican; Louis Raphaël I Sako; Mar Awa III; Mar Gewargis III Younan; Ignatius Aphrem II; Cardinal Bechara Boutros al-Rahi; Ignatius Yousif III Younan; Youssef Absi; Raphaël Bedros XXI Minassian; and Ibrahim Isaac Sidrak.
Also present were the Apostolic Nuncio, Mirosław Stanisław Wachowski, along with bishops representing the Assyrian Church of the East, the Ancient Church of the East, Syriac Catholic, Armenian Catholic, Latin, Syriac Orthodox, Greek Orthodox, and Armenian Orthodox Churches.
The Chaldean bishops gathered around the new Patriarch at the cathedral altar. The ceremony began with a welcoming address and the reading of Patriarch Nona’s biography by Bishop Felix Shabi, followed by an English translation read by Fr. David Stephen.
Fr. Zaid Hababa provided commentary throughout the rite, highlighting its principal moments. The ordination was presided over by Bishop Antoine Audo, assisted by Bishops Ramzi Garmo, Michael Kassarji, and Habib Hormiz. Choirs from the Chaldean dioceses of Iraq, together with priests, religious sisters, and deacons under the direction of Fr. Nashwan Younan, chanted the ordination psalms. The choir of Kokhe Church, led by Fr. Ameer Gammo, also contributed hymns during the ceremony.
Following the Gospel, proclaimed by Bishop Bashar Warda, the installation rite began with the invocation of the Holy Spirit. The bishops placed their right hands upon the Patriarch’s back, praying that he receive the grace necessary for his new mission—a sign of episcopal communion. After he vested in the patriarchal insignia, the consecrating bishops seated him upon his throne, and the Chaldean bishops jointly held the patriarchal staff, symbolizing obedience to the Patriarch.
In his address, Cardinal Gugerotti conveyed the congratulations of Pope Leo XIV and praised the Chaldean Church for carrying the Gospel throughout the world. He emphasized that its missionary witness arose not from political power but from the strength of its teaching, culture, and holy way of life. He also highlighted the importance of martyrdom in Chaldean history and encouraged Patriarch Nona to remain faithful to the Church’s traditions, maintain closeness to the faithful, and make evangelization his highest priority.
Awaiting the public celebration of ecclesial communion with the Holy Father, Cardinal Gugerotti stated:
“We do not want, nor can we accept, that the voice of the Chaldean Church be silenced because of historical or political circumstances,”
while assuring the Patriarch of the Holy See’s continued support.
In his own address, Patriarch Nona reflected on his patriarchal motto, “Do not be afraid; only believe” (Mark 5:36). He described faith as the opposite of isolation and fear: a movement beyond oneself and one’s anxieties toward trust in a living Person. Faith, he said, is openness, courage, and a decision to trust—not because everything is understood, but because one knows in whom one believes.
He expressed gratitude to all who shared in the celebration and outlined six major priorities for his patriarchate:
1. The unity of the Church—not uniformity of opinions, but unity of purpose.
2. Spiritual life and deep faith, with a strong impact on society.
3. The clergy and ongoing formation, viewing priests as collaborators rather than mere executors of directives.
4. The faithful and youth as a source of strength, rooted in their unique identity and tradition.
5. Preservation of the Church’s distinctive identity, including its liturgy, language, customs, theology, moral teaching, and Eastern Christian spirituality.
6. Fraternity with other Churches, particularly the Assyrian Church of the East and the Ancient Church of the East, emphasizing that what binds them is not merely a relationship but true brotherhood in the one faith in God, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit.
The celebration concluded with the Patriarch’s final blessing, followed by applause and joyful ululations from the faithful who filled the cathedral, its hall, and its courtyard.
At the luncheon held in his honor, Patriarch Mar Gewargis III Younan presented him with a ceremonial staff, while the artist and Gospel deacon Bassam Sabri gifted him an artwork depicting an Eastern Cross surrounded by the lineage of the Patriarchs of the East.
Patriarch Nona is scheduled to celebrate his first Mass following his installation with the bishops at 6:00 p.m. on Saturday, May 30, 2026, at St. Joseph Chaldean Cathedral in Baghdad.
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