New church in Ur to promote interfaith unity

Mar 07, 2025

BAGHDAD: The upcoming inauguration of a church of the Chaldeans in Ur, four years after Pope Francis’ visit, is being seen as a “message” and a symbol of “openness,” according to Cardinal Louis Raphael Sako, Chaldean Patriarch of Baghdad. The church, he hopes, will become a place of pilgrimage not only for Iraqis but for believers worldwide, both Christian and Muslim, since “Abraham is their common father,” said the prelate.

Originally scheduled for March 6, the anniversary of Pope Francis’ apostolic journey, the opening will now take place after Easter, following Ramadan and Lent. This delay accommodates the participation of Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani and other Muslim leaders, making it preferable to wait until after the Islamic fasting and prayer period.

The church is envisioned as a landmark and pilgrimage destination, akin to the Church of the Baptism on the Jordan River or the Abrahamic House in the United Arab Emirates. Cardinal Sako emphasised that such places are crucial for uniting humanity, as they serve as meeting points for all religions.

This church holds significant meaning for Iraq and its people. As a Christian “symbol” in a predominantly Muslim country, it aims to foster understanding and respect for Christianity. By focusing on shared values and embracing diversity, the church hopes to contribute to peaceful coexistence and stability.

Four years after Pope Francis’ visit —his first apostolic journey abroad during the COVID-19 pandemic — the Catholic community in Iraq is ready to inaugurate the Ibrahim Al-Khalil Church of the Chaldeans in Ur. Named after Abraham, the father of Jews, Christians, and Muslims, the church is part of a larger complex in the desert with a striking pyramidal shape. It is not just a place of worship but also a centre for religious, social, and cultural activities, closely linked to the Pope’s message of unity among the three monotheistic faiths.

The church’s opening builds on the Pope’s 2019 signing of the Document on Human Fraternity in Abu Dhabi with Grand Imam Ahmed el-Tayeb and his meeting with Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, Iraq’s leading Syiah cleric. The site also aims to support Iraq’s dwindling Christian community, which has shrunk from around 1.5 million to several hundred thousand over the past two decades.

Spanning 10,000 square metres, the church features a 600-square-metre worship hall and a 23-metre-high bell tower. While serving the Christian community, it is also expected to attract tourists, particularly Christian pilgrims from around the world. “Four years after the Pope’s visit, everyone still remembers him,” Cardinal Sako remarked. “He has often said that Iraq is in his heart.” --Asia News