Amman – His Excellency Bishop Iyad Twal, Latin Patriarchal Vicar in Jordan, has concluded an official visit to the Chaldean Church in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region, aimed at strengthening the bonds of fraternity and partnership between the Churches. He was accompanied by Fr. Khaled Gammoh, Secretary of the Vicariate, and Fr. Zaid Habbaba, Patriarchal Vicar of the Chaldean Church in Jordan.

His Excellency began the visit in Erbil with a meeting with Archbishop Bashar Warda, Archbishop of the Chaldean Archeparchy of Erbil, where the two discussed ways of cooperating in the service of the Church. The delegation then visited Maryamana Hospital and the Catholic University, both affiliated with the Archeparchy, to learn about their role in the health and education sectors. The day concluded with the celebration of Holy Mass with parishioners at the Church of Our Lady of Perpetual Help.

On the second day, the delegation visited the monastery of the Chaldean Antonian Order and the Shrine of Our Lady “Guardian of the Crops” in Alqosh. They also visited the hermitage monastery in the mountains and the monks’ cells, as well as the tombs of several early patriarchs of the Chaldean Church and the tomb of Rabban Hormizd. The day ended with a fraternal meeting with Bishop Azad Shaba, Bishop of the Eparchy of Duhok.

On the third day, His Excellency visited Babel College for Philosophy and Theology, where he was received by its Dean, Sister Dr. Sanaa Youssef. He then proceeded to the General House of the Chaldean Antonian Order of Saint Hormizd and visited the Monastery of the Servant of God, Martyr Abbot Gabriel Danbo.

The visit culminated in a meeting with His Beatitude Patriarch Mar Paulus III Nona at the Patriarchal See, in the presence of Archbishop Bashar Warda. The meeting addressed the reality of the Church in the East and the challenges facing its presence and mission, as well as prospects for joint work in the pastoral, humanitarian, and educational fields. It also affirmed the importance of the authentic Christian presence in the East and the preservation of its spiritual and cultural heritage.

Bishop Twal also briefed His Beatitude on the ongoing preparations in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan to celebrate, in 2030, the 2,000th anniversary of the Baptism of Jesus Christ, and extended to him an invitation to visit Jordan.

The visit took place in an atmosphere of fraternity and ecclesial communion, reflecting the deep ties between the Latin and Chaldean Churches and the importance of continued encounter and dialogue for the good of the Church and the witness of Christians in the East.