Over the past two decades, Iraq's population has fallen dramatically. The European Centre for Law and Justice reports that the Iraqi Christian population in particular has declined from "1.5 million in 2003 to 150,000 today due to ongoing violence and lack of resources." Amid this uncertainty, the Chaldean Catholic faithful are seeking reassurance, stability, and renewed confidence in their future.
The Chaldean Catholic Church is among the world's oldest Christian traditions, tracing its origins back to the earliest Christian centuries in the region of Mesopotamia. The faith was brought to the region through the missionary work of St. Thomas the Apostle and his disciples, St. Addai and St. Mari. Initially, the Chaldean Catholic Church was part of the Church of the East--that is, one of the branches of Christianity that developed during the church controversies of the fifth and sixth centuries. The other Christian churches that trace their lineage back to the Church of the East are the Assyrian Church of the East, the Ancient Assyrian Church of the East, and the Syro-Malabar Church.
The modern Chaldean Catholic Church emerged in the 1500s, out of further dissent within the Church of the East. A group of bishops who opposed the practice of hereditary succession among the patriarchs deposed their existing patriarch and elected the monk Yohannan Sulaqa to replace him. Later, in the 19th century, Pope Pius VIII recognized Yohannan VIII Hormizd as Patriarch of Babylon for Chaldeans, bringing the principal patriarchal lines under Roman leadership.
Today, the Chaldean Catholic Church is one of more than 20 Eastern Rite churches. It retains a distinct East Syriac liturgical and spiritual heritage, but it is also in communion with Rome. The church in the region is facing many challenges, including displacement, economic hardship, and conflict--pressures that have drastically reduced the Iraqi Christian presence.
In April 2026, His Beatitude Mar Paul III Nona was elected the new Patriarch of the Chaldean Catholic Church of Baghdad. The election of a prominent spiritual leader carries significance far beyond the walls of the church. In the Republic of Iraq and the Kurdistan Region, faith, history, and politics remain strongly intertwined. Mar Paul III Nona's election has been welcomed as a moment of hope for Chaldean Christians and the wider region. Many see the new patriarch's election as an opportunity to strengthen the church's role in community dialogue, support persecuted communities, and pursue reconciliation and healing across Iraq and the Kurdistan region.
As President Masoud Barzani of the Kurdistan Region said, on the occasion of the patriarch's election, "we reaffirm that the Kurdistan Region will remain, as it has always been, a s
(AINA) -- On 3-18-2007 AINA reported that Muslims were forcing the Christian Assyrians in the Dora Neighborhood of Baghdad to Pay the jizya, the 'Protection Tax' demanded from Christians and Jews by Islamic law. AINA has obtained testimony from two residents of Dora and an observer. All names are withheld to protect the safety of the individuals.
Baghdad Observer:
Elements of Al-Qaeda have moved into Dora from Anbar. No security forces are to be seen there, it seems to be abandoned by both Iraqi and Coalition. In Hay Al-Mechaneek (which is in Dora across the bridge) people have been warned by these insurgents to uninstall the satellite dishes since this is "Haram" (forbidden) in Islam. In Dora where Christians live in Hay Al-Mualimeen [Teachers quarter] and Hay Al-Athorieen [Assyrian quarter] is where they are telling people to convert, leave, pay "Jizya" taxation.
Email From Dora Resident:
This has been going on for the past week, and it started even before Easter. We talked to many people within the American Embassy and Iraqi Government, but it seems no body really cares, because they have done nothing, or sometimes I wonder if they care at all. Neither the Iraqi nor the US army have any activity there, and they have delivered Dora to insurgents; and above all the US army went and put a camp in the Chaldean church (Babylon Theology College) to raise the hate among those Muslims toward Christians, as they are seeing them allies for Americans, and that worsen things more.
Testimony of Dora Resident, Currently A Refugee In Syria:
Yes it is true, today a family [name withheld] arrived from Dora/Mualimeen street, and they said some terrorists knocked on their door and when they opened the door they were told to either pay money (jizya) to support the insurgents or convert to Islam, or leave the house within 24 hours or else be killed.
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