May 19, 2005

PARIS – His Beatitude, Emmanuel III Delly, Patriarch of Babylon and head of the Chaldean Church in Iraq, made a Pentecost visit to the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity, Paris, France, where the Solemn Evensong was sung in his honor. The patriarch's visit to the Cathedral is part of his ongoing visit to France, where an estimated 16,000 Chaldeans make their home. Bishop Pierre Whalon of the Convocation of American Churches in Europe, who was among those facilitating the Patriarch's visit to France, noted that the purpose of the trip was both religious and diplomatic. While visiting France, tne patriarch ordained three deacons at the Chaldean parish of St. Thomas the Apostle in Sarcelles, a suburb of Paris. On the afternoon of May 16, the patriarch met with President Jacques Chirac to share his perspective on the evolving circumstances in his country since the fall of Saddam Hussein.

The dean of the Cathedral, the Very Rev. Zachary Fleetwood, officiated at the vesper service in the packed church. In his opening remarks, Fleetwood welcomed the patriarch and other invited guests, including leaders of the French Catholic, Orthodox, Coptic, Reformed, and Lutheran churches, and representatives of the American Embassy and the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

In his homily given in English and French, Whalon began by conveying to Emmanuel III the greetings and prayers of the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr. Rowan Williams. He also read a letter of welcome from Presiding Bishop Frank Griswold. Whalon then thanked the patriarch for welcoming him to Baghdad in February 2003, just before the conflict began. Whalon had expressed at the time the opposition of the Episcopal Church and the Anglican Communion to a war, and at the patriarch's invitation, led an ecumenical service for peace.

Whalon commented that he was changed by his trip to Iraq. The experience, he said, made him more aware of the ancient churches of the Orient. He expressed his hope that the American and French people (Whalon is a citizen of both countries) will become more and more aware of the churches in Iraq. "The more we know of Iraqi Christians," he said, "the better we will remember you and our duty toward you and all Iraqi Christians."

Quoting Griswold, Whalon underlined to the patriarch the "deep pain" felt by Griswold and all Episcopalians for "your suffering in the aftermath of our nation's attack, which we did everything to try to prevent." He called upon "all people of good will" now to support the new democracy being born in Iraq, saying that religious tolerance was necessary not only for the survival of Iraqi Christians, but all Iraqis. "It is therefore imperative that we all support this new democracy," said Whalon. "It is our duty." He concluded by expressing to the patriarch his hope that they could meet again "on the banks of the Tigris, where there will be peace."

A formal reception followed for Emmanuel III, who in his remarks thanked Whalon and Fleetwood for their warm welcome, and especially for the sincere expression of support and care for the Chaldeans and all Iraqi Christians. The patriarch said that their plight extends to all humanity, for we all deeply desire to live in peace. He received a gift of a leather-bound French-English Book of Common Prayer, one of four bilingual texts published by the Convocation of American Churches in Europe. The patriarch gave his benediction to the packed parish hall before departing.

This event is the second in a series on international affairs hosted at the American Cathedral. In June 2004, Whalon and Fleetwood welcomed key representatives from the Middle East of the Muslim, Jewish and Christian faiths for a conference on peacemaking.

For more information on Emmanuel III's visit to France: http://www.mission-chaldeenne.org/.

For more on the June 2004 conference: http://www.childrenofabrahampeacemakers.org/.

For more on Bishop Pierre Whalon's trip to Baghdad: http://anglicansonline.org/archive/special/iraq/sheherazade.html and also http://anglicansonline.org/resources/essays/whalon/Back_to_Iraq.html.

Episcopal News Service
Source: Convocation of American Churches in Europe