A Decisive intervention in the Chaldean Catholic Church?
by Serre Verweij
Pope Leo has accepted the resignation of both Cardinal Sako and Bishop Emanuel Shaleta on the same day. The former the head of the Chaldean Catholic Church and the latter a bishop of the same rite who is in charge of all Catholics in the Western part of the USA and who has been charged with financial crimes (though he has pled not guilty). He is also accused of having frequented a brothel connected to human trafficking.
The decision to remove Shaleta appears straightforwardly good and decisive, as it suggests Pope Leo is far less likely to leave scandal ridden bishops in place when they have the proper connections. This is similar to how Pope Leo forced Indonesian bishop Bruno Syukur to retire, when Francis had previously wanted to make him a cardinal at his final consistory. It makes it less likely that Leo’s tendencies to be patient, prudent and take his time, are indicative of indecisiveness or an eagerness to please. At the same time, so far, the policy under Francis seems to have ended where conservative bishops who were too uncompromising for their colleagues, such as Strickland or Fernández Torres, seemed to get removed without clear indications of exceptionally bad governance. Similarly processes to crack down on Opus Dei or the Cistercian Abbey of Heiligenkreuz appear to have stalled.
The removal of Cardinal Sako deserves greater attention as he was not only the head of the Chaldean Catholic Church and linked to this controversy, but has been embroiled in other conflicts previously. Cardinal Sako was previously alleged to have wanted to resign shortly after he turned 75 but to have changed his mind after he entered into a conflict with several bishops of his church.
Five bishops, including an important archbishop, boycotted the Chaldean Catholic synod in 2024, as an act of resistance against Cardinal Sako. He quickly threatened with severe canonical penalties, including excommunication, before de-escalating and sending the matter to be reviewed by a higher ecclesial court, while Rome didn’t pick sides. It was also claimed at the time that Sako would not have followed ‘the required canonical procedural steps, including canonical warnings’.
Other controversies involving Sako were his conflict with Iran-backed Iraqi militia leader and strongman Rayan al-Kildani (critics say it was caused by Sako wanting to expand his political power), al-Kildani making the government to revoke a decree recognizing Sako as head of the Chaldean church and Sako uncanonically spending over 9 months in exile, and claims that he had called for normalization of relations with Israel.
Sako specifically claims that he resigned voluntarily and had offered to do so two years ago but been left in place by Francis. Like any denial in such cases, this is rather hard to believe, specifically as it happens on the same day that Shaleta fell.
As The Pillar noted, Sako tried to defend Shaleta and even to ensure he would be transferred to a high-ranking position in the Chaldean Curia. This makes it seem even less likely that the double resignations were a coincidence. It fits an emerging pattern where Pope Leo has less tolerance for cardinals (over 75) who try to shield or defend ally bishops when they are being scrutinized for misconduct. Pope Leo is already reported to have been preparing a replacement for Cardinal Castillo of Lima in Peru when Francis was allegedly willing to let him stay on till 80 and Castillo was likewise defending a scandal ridden (progressive ally) bishop, whom Leo removed regardless.
Cardinal Sako has been a mixed case himself when it comes to issues of doctrine and liturgy as well. He appeared soft and ambiguous during the Synod on the Family and suggested priestly celibacy could be changed in the Latin rite. He also appeared to have somewhat of a dislike for traditional vestments and liturgy (generally more in the Chaldean context) and to have gone pretty far in dialogue with Islam. He did however join the opposition to Fiducia Supplicans, and to remarks by Francis published in 2020 which suggested Francis supports civil unions for homosexuals. Furthermore, no one can argue that his tenure leading the Chaldean Catholic Church was not extremely difficult and trying.
Cardinal Sako had to deal with Islamic threats and also political enemies in Islam while seeming to be abandoned by the Vatican under Francis. Whether this contributed to him relying too much on, or becoming overly loyal to, questionable prelates or too heavy-handed in his leadership cannot currently be said with certainty.
What can be said, however, was that the Chaldean Catholic Church was not only facing external threats but internal division near the end of his tenure and that Rome seemed to stand aside and just let things happen during Francis’ final years. This may well be over now with Pope Leo and will become clear once Rome helps restore unity under new fresh leadership in the autonomous church.
