Chaldean Patriarch says reconstruction has not restored Christian hope in Iraq

BAGHDAD, Iraq — The Patriarch of the Chaldean Catholic Church, Paul III Nuna, said reconstruction efforts in the Nineveh Plain have not secured the full return of Christian communities displaced by the Islamic State's advance on Mosul 12 years ago, and that widespread hopelessness remains, especially among young people. Nuna, who was Chaldean Archbishop of Mosul on the night of Aug. 6–7, 2014, said in an interview with Spain-based Info Vaticana that he still recalls the fear of families fleeing by car or on foot. The patriarch acknowledged that security concerns in historically Christian areas have largely been resolved, but said physical rebuilding has not addressed the demographic problem, with many Christians having permanently left the country or relocated to areas they consider safer. He argued that a genuine return requires not only rebuilt housing but also political stability, employment opportunities, an end to discrimination and guarantees that a tragedy like 2014 will not recur. Nuna described the most serious problem as despair among young people, which he said has also reduced their willingness to marry and start families. He added that he will host a meeting of Chaldean bishops on Aug. 28 in Ankawa, near Erbil — the first such gathering since 2021 — to strengthen inter-church cooperation. The patriarch also voiced concern over the potential impact of US-Iran tensions on Iraq's economy, saying the fundamental issue is whether Christian communities can remain on lands their roots trace back thousands of years.