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Vatican to appoint new Iraqi cardinal

The Vatican will inaugurate the Chaldean Patriarch of Iraq, Louis Raphael I Sako, as cardinal, which will strengthen the status of Christians in Iraq and bring them more global support.
Pope Francis (L) talks with Patriarch Louis Raphael I Sako during a meeting with priests, seminarists, and pastoral care agents at the Church of the Assumption in Tbilisi, Georgia October 1, 2016. REUTERS/Luca Zennaro/Pool - D1BEUEMDBYAA
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BAGHDAD — Iraq’s Christian leader, Patriarch Louis Raphael I Sako, accompanied by a delegation from the Iraqi Chaldean Church, headed to Rome on June 25, where he will become a cardinal on June 28.

This major development will allow Iraq to have a say in choosing the next pope and give the country the chance to voice its aspirations to the international community, which may be a decisive factor in bringing Christians together around unified demands.

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