The Presidency of the Republic clarified today, Friday, the reasons for withdrawing the decree of Cardinal Louis Raphael Sacco, while indicating that the withdrawal of the decree came to correct a constitutional situation.
The President of the Republic, Abd al-Latif Jamal Rashid, said in a statement: “The media circulated what was stated in Issue (4727) of the Iraqi Chronicle Newspaper issued on July 3, 2023, which includes Republican Decree No. (31) to withdraw Republican Decree No. (147) of 2013 regarding the Patriarch Cardinal, Louis Raphael Sacco.
The President of the Republic added, "We affirm that the withdrawal of the Republican decree does not prejudice the religious or legal status of Cardinal Louis Sacco, as he was appointed by the Apostolic See as Patriarch of the Chaldean Church in Iraq and the world, but the withdrawal of the decree came to correct a constitutional situation, as Decree No. (147) of the year was issued 2013 without a constitutional or legal basis, in addition to the call of the heads of churches and other sects to issue similar republican decrees without a constitutional basis.
In his statement, the President of the Republic affirmed that "Patriarch Louis Sacco enjoys the respect and appreciation of the Presidency of the Republic as the Patriarch of the Chaldean Church in Iraq and the world."
Source: National Iraqi News Agency
