Home / News & Publications / Michigan Catholic News / 2007 / Local Chaldeans applaud Patriarch Delly's red hat
Local Chaldeans applaud Patriarch Delly's red hat
Robert Delaney of The Michigan Catholic
Published November 23, 2007
Detroit — Local Chaldean Catholics are expressing pride and approval that Patriarch Emmanuel-Karim Delly, 80, will become the first Chaldean patriarch in history to become a cardinal of the Catholic Church.
In fact, about 150 Chaldeans from metro Detroit will be traveling to Rome to be present for the Nov. 24 ceremony, and another 60 or so are expected to fly from California for the event.
"I see it, first, as an appreciation of the service he is rendering in Iraq, but also a recognition of all the people of Iraq, and especially the Christians of Iraq," said Bishop Ibrahim N. Ibrahim of the Southfield-based Eparchy of St. Thomas the Apostle.
The eparchy is the diocese for Chaldean Catholics in the eastern United States, most of whose approximately 100,000 faithful live in southeastern Michigan.
"The Christians of Iraq are struggling to keep their faith, and even though he will have no right to vote (in papal elections, because of his age), this is still a great honor for him and all Chaldeans," Bishop Ibrahim continued.
The bishop praised Patriarch Delly, who became patriarch of the Baghdad-based Chaldean Catholic Church when he was elected by a synod of Chaldean bishops meeting in Rome in December 2003, for staying in Baghdad despite the ongoing violence in Iraq. "He's said, 'If I leave, I have to be the last to leave,'" Bishop Ibrahim said.
The Chaldean Catholic Church has been in union with Rome since the 16th century.
Many of his flock – variously estimated at 800,000 to 1 million worldwide, have been fleeing their homeland, however, not only to escape the war but also Muslim intolerance in some parts of the country.
Joseph Kassab, president of the Chaldean Federation of America and a member of Mother of God Parish in Southfield, said Chaldeans are "very, very happy and elated" by the appointment.
"We are all really pleased to see someone of our heritage being elevated to such a position," said Kassab.
The trip to Rome will also give him a chance to see his brother, Archbishop Djibrail Kassab, Sydney-based archbishop for all Chaldeans in Oceania (Australia, New Zealand and other South Seas nations).
Fr. Manuel Boji, rector of Our Lady of Chaldeans Cathedral of Mother of God Parish, pointed out that being patriarch is actually a higher position than being a cardinal, but being named a cardinal is a worthy honor for a deserving man.
"It means a lot to us, and the support of the Holy Father for the Christians of Iraq means a lot to us," he said.
Fr. Boji called Patriarch Delly "a very simple person – a man of faith, who during all his service to the Church and its people has never sought the spotlight."
Danial Elias Jaddou of Warren and Patriarch Delly go way back together – to grade school days back in Tel Kaif, Iraq. "We were together until we passed the fifth grade, then he started seminary in Mosul in 1940," Jaddou recalled.
"I remember he was the smart one in school – very active and very smart," said Jaddou, a member of St. Joseph (Chaldean) Parish in Troy.
And he added that the officials of the seminary in Mosul sent him to study in Rome.
"When he was ordained, his first Mass was broadcast on Vatican Radio, and we all listened to it back home. He earned two Ph.D.s in Rome – in canon law and in theology," Jaddou said.
And even though the future patriarch's talents were such that he was made a bishop at 36, he has always remained very humble, his long-time friend continued.
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