Cardinal Louis Raphaël Sako, Patriarch of the Chaldean Catholic Church, has called for the four Churches that are rooted in the ancient Church of the East to work toward unity. These include the Chaldean Church, the Assyrian Church, the Ancient Church, and the Assyrian Evangelical Protestant Church.
As reported by the Vatican’s Fides News Agency, Cardinal Sako reflected on the divisions that have marked these Christian communities and likened the Churches to passengers navigating different waves but travelling together and “in the same boat.”
In a statement released by the Chaldean Patriarcate, the Cardinal stressed that unity is not only a necessity but “the only solution to the challenges of our time.” Cardinal Sako highlighted the enduring declaration of faith which is shared across these Christian Churches, which states: “I believe in One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church.”
Cardinal Sako noted that despite many centuries of division, the essence of the Church remains unified. He went on to describe schisms as being “against the will of Christ,” underscoring the profound harm caused by the fragmentation of the Church of the East into four distinct entities.
However, Cardinal Sako stressed that his call for unity is not a request to return to the past. He explained that “unity is not about returning to what we were but about focusing on what we should become”, adding that his aim is to heal the wounds of division and foster “full communion” between these historic Churches. In his appeal, Cardinal Sako outlined six practical proposals for a “new vision” of the Church of the East.