Louis Sako: The Iraqi Cardinal Who Could Succeed Pope Francis and Lead the Vatican

With the announcement of Pope Francis's death at 88, Iraqi Cardinal Louis Raphael I Sako (76) emerged as a potential successor, gaining official endorsement from Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani for the papacy.

Pope Francis passed away on April 21, 2025, at his residence in Casa Santa Marta at the Vatican, following a decline in his health since February 18. Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires to an immigrant, working-class family, he was of Argentine descent.

‘The Sole Candidate’

As talks about a successor to the late Pope Francis gained momentum, Iraq’s Prime Minister al-Sudani threw his weight behind Cardinal Louis Raphael I Sako, declaring him “the sole candidate from the Middle East” to ascend to the papal throne. He highlighted Sako’s prominent role both locally and internationally, underscoring his longstanding efforts to foster peace and tolerance.

“Our country, Iraq, is one of the most significant places where followers of the Christian faith have coexisted with other religions throughout history,” the prime minister posted on X.

“Today, it is home to believers of all denominations, symbolizing love and brotherhood among followers of different faiths.”

However, this post sparked the ire of Rayan al-Kildani, leader of the Christian Babylon militia, which is part of the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) and a fierce adversary of Cardinal Louis Raphael I Sako. The two have previously exchanged accusations regarding the Christian community, its positions, and assets in Iraq.

Al-Kildani said discussions about nominating individuals for the papacy reflect “a blatant ignorance of Church procedures,” emphasizing that the Pope does not nominate himself but is instead elected solely by the cardinals in a closed conclave, without any electoral campaigns or formal nominations.

He clarified that media claims about a “Cardinal X” being a candidate are merely “superficial promotion,” and that it is the cardinals alone who choose the Pope “through prayer, reflection, and the guidance of the Holy Spirit.” He described these speculations as “empty” and a distortion of the Catholic Church's understanding, causing embarrassment among friends.

Al-Kildani further noted that the Iraqi cardinal (referring to Sako) is not the only representative of the Middle East in the conclave, as the Latin Patriarch of Occupied Jerusalem and the Maronite Patriarch are also part of it. He stressed that the Catholic Church is universal and not bound by borders, warning against forming positions based on “illusions” and “misinformation” that could be used to embarrass Catholics and the public opinion.

Following this, the Chaldean Patriarchate in Iraq issued a statement clarifying the nomination of Cardinal Louis Raphael Sako for the papacy, noting that he is one of the cardinals eligible for election and nomination.

“Speculation about the successor to His Holiness Pope Francis began after his health deteriorated and he was hospitalized, with names of some cardinals from Europe, America, Africa, Asia, and the Middle East spreading here and there,” the statement read.

“There are 136 cardinals from around the world [under the age of 80] who meet the conditions to vote and be nominated, and Cardinal Louis Raphael Sako is among them.”

The statement further explained that these cardinals “will meet in secret prayer sessions for several days, and after praying, each cardinal will vote conscientiously for the candidate they believe is worthy of this great responsibility.”

Opposition to Militias

Cardinal Louis Raphael I Sako has found himself locked in repeated disputes with Rayan al-Kildani, leader of the Babylon militia linked to PMF and under U.S. sanctions since 2019, tensions that ultimately drew the Vatican into efforts to mediate the deepening rift among Iraq’s Christian factions.

At the time, the Vatican issued a statement from the European Union and 11 European countries, affirming their support for Chaldean Catholic Patriarch Cardinal Louis Raphael Sako amidst his dispute with Rayan al-Kildani.

According to a report published by Vatican News on May 21, 2023, European governments expressed solidarity with Patriarch Sako, emphasizing the importance of his efforts to protect the rights of Christians in the land they have inhabited for two thousand years.

These developments followed a press conference held by Sako on May 6, 2023, in which he called on the Iraqi government to take a stand regarding the accusations against him and the Chaldean Church. He also warned that, if no action was taken by the Iraqi state, he would turn to international forums to seek protection.

“I will not cease to defend the truth until it is fulfilled, although you said surprisingly to another visitor: ‘I do not understand why Cardinal Sako protests, while Christ was crucified while he was silent.’ Your Excellency, Jesus spoke harsh words against injustice,” he said.

“I care deeply for Iraq and have never allowed any party to interfere in the matter, even though I could request intervention from the Vatican and our Western allies. But if the Iraqi government is not concerned with protecting the rights of Christians, then we will act.”

The conflict between Sako and al-Kildani erupted after mutual accusations from both sides regarding the handling of Christian churches and homes belonging to those who had fled Iraq, including claims of selling or seizing them, both of which they deny.

During his press conference, Sako stated that al-Kildani has taken control of the Christian community's resources, including the Christian quota in the parliament, and is using Christian religious symbols for political purposes.

He also pointed out that al-Kildani, his brothers, and followers have seized Christian properties in the Nineveh Plain, Tel Kayf, and Alqosh (cities in the Mosul province) and Christian homes in Baghdad.

Sako accused his rival of attempting to seize the Christian Endowment Office and the church, alleging that al-Kildani had bought some Christian clergy to cover up his actions. This came in response to accusations from the leader of Babylon that the cardinal was selling churches in Iraq.

External Support

Amid the crisis with al-Kildani, Iraqi President Abdul Latif Rashid, a member of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) led by Bafel Talabani, who is an ally of the leader of Babylon, issued a presidential decree in early July 2023 to revoke Cardinal Louis Raphael Sako's appointment as Patriarch of the Chaldean Church in Iraq and worldwide, as well as his responsibility over its endowments.

At the height of the tensions with Iraq’s president and al-Kildani, Cardinal Sako decided to withdraw from the patriarchal headquarters in Baghdad and relocate to a monastery in the Kurdistan region.

In a press conference on 15 July 2023, Cardinal Sako announced he was withdrawing from the patriarchal headquarters in Baghdad to a monastery in Iraq’s Kurdistan region, denouncing what he described as a campaign against him by the Babylon militia and the government’s silence.

Decrying what he called a “dirty game,” he suggested to what he referred to as the “protector of the constitution,” in reference to the president that al-Kildani and his brothers should be given responsibility for the “church's endowments.”

A week later, the United States weighed in, with State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller voicing concern over the Iraqi president’s decision to revoke the decree appointing Cardinal Louis Raphael Sako as Patriarch of the Chaldean Church in Iraq and around the world.

“We are disturbed by the harassment of Cardinal Sako, the patriarch of the Chaldean Church, and troubled by the news that he has left Baghdad,” Miller said.

“We are concerned that the Cardinal's position as a respected leader of the church is under attack from a number of quarters.”

Miller expressed the U.S.'s concern about Sako's attacks, particularly from a militia leader who is under sanctions according to the U.S. Magnitsky Act, which punishes foreign government officials who violate human rights.

Nearly a year after the conflict, Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani reinstated Cardinal Louis Raphael Sako's legal status as Patriarch of the Chaldean Church in Iraq and worldwide and his responsibility over its endowments, paving the way for the clergyman's return to Baghdad.

On July 12, 2024, the Chaldean Patriarchate issued a statement confirming that “His Beatitude Patriarch Cardinal Louis Raphael Sako received the official copy of the Diwani Order, signed by Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani, appointing him Patriarch of the Chaldean Church in Iraq and worldwide and assigning him responsibility over its endowments.”

“Yes, I am returning to Baghdad [..] I am pleased because justice has prevailed; this gives a lot of hope to Christians and for the respect of their rights,” he told AFP.

Master's in Jurisprudence

Cardinal Patriarch Mar Louis Raphael I Sako was born in the city of Zakho, in the Kurdistan region of Iraq, on July 4, 1948. He was ordained as a priest in the Chaldean Diocese of Mosul in 1974.

He earned a doctorate from the Pontifical University in Rome in 1983, a Master's degree in Islamic Jurisprudence in 1984, and later obtained another doctorate from the Sorbonne University in 1986.

He was appointed as the Archbishop of Kirkuk in 2002 and was officially named to the position the following year. In February 2013, he was elected Patriarch of the Chaldean Church during the Synod of the Church in Rome, succeeding the resigned Patriarch Emmanuel III Delly.

On January 4, 2022, Louis Sako was appointed as a member of the Vatican's Economic Council.

Louis Sako has received numerous honors and distinctions, including the Order of the Defense of the Faith from Italy, the Pax Christi International Peace Award, and the Saint Stephen medal for human rights from Germany.

He has authored and published over 200 articles and 20 books in the fields of Christian theology and jurisprudence. He has held the rank of Cardinal since 2018 and has been a Catholic Archbishop since 2013. He is fluent in several languages, including modern Assyrian Aramaic, Syriac, and Arabic.

Cardinal Louis Raphael Sako is a prominent figure among the Christian minority in Iraq and serves as its main spokesperson, especially in political and diplomatic circles, both domestically and internationally.

The Chaldean Church is one of the largest Christian denominations in Iraq. It is estimated that the Christian population in the country today does not exceed 400,000, down from about 1.5 million two decades ago, due to 20 years of wars and conflicts that led to widespread emigration.