Anglican Communion News Service - Digest News

Convocation of American Churches in Europe

May 15, 2005

His Beatitude, Emmanuel III Delly, Patriarch of Babylon and head of the Chaldean Church in Iraq, made a Pentecost visit to the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity, Paris, France, where the Solemn Evensong was sung in his honor. The Patriarch's visit to the Cathedral is part of his ongoing visit to France, where an estimated 16,000 Chaldeans make their home. The Right Reverend Pierre Whalon, who is among those facilitating the Patriarch's visit to France, noted that the purpose of the trip was both religious and diplomatic.

While visiting France, his Beatitude will ordain three deacons at the Chaldean parish of St Thomas the Apostle in Sarcelles, a suburb of Paris. On the afternoon of May 16, the Patriarch will meet with President Jacques Chirac to share his perspective on the evolving circumstances in his country since the fall of Sadaam Hussein.

The Dean of the Cathedral, the Very Rev. Zachary Fleetwood, officiated at the vesper service in the packed church. Dean Fleetwood in his opening remarks welcomed the Patriarch and other invited guests, including leaders of the French Catholic, Orthodox, Coptic, Reformed, and Lutheran churches, and representatives of the American Embassy and the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

In his homily given in English and French, Bishop Whalon began by conveying to Emmanuel III the greetings and prayers of the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most. Rev. & Rt. Hon. Rowan Williams. He also read a letter of welcome from Presiding Bishop Frank Griswold of the Episcopal Church. Bishop Whalon then thanked the Patriarch for welcoming him to Baghdad in February 2003, just before the conflict there began. Bishop Whalon had expressed there the opposition of the Episcopal Church and the Anglican Communion to a war, and at the Patriarch's invitation, led an ecumenical service for peace.

Whalon commented that he was changed by his trip to Iraq. The experience made him more aware of the ancient churches of the Orient, of which he had been previously ignorant. He expressed his hope that Americans and French people (Whalon is a citizen of both countries) will become more and more aware of the Churches in Iraq. 'The more we know of Iraqi Christians, the better we will remember you and our duty toward you and all Iraqi Christians.'

Quoting Bishop Griswold, Whalon underlined to the Patriarch the "deep pain" felt by Griswold and all Episcopalians for "your suffering in the aftermath of our nation's attack, which we did everything to try to prevent." He called upon "all people of good will" now to support the new democracy being born in Iraq, saying that religious tolerance was necessary not only for the survival of Iraqi Christians, but indeed all Iraqis. "It is therefore imperative that we all support this new democracy," said Whalon, "it is our duty." He concluded by expressing to the Patriarch his hope that they could meet again "on the banks of the Tigris, where there will be peace."

A formal reception followed for Emmanuel III, who in his remarks thanked Bishop Whalon and Dean Fleetwood for their warm welcome, and especially for the sincere expression of support and care for the Chaldeans and all Iraqi Christians. The Patriarch said that their plight extends to all humanity, for we all deeply desire to live in peace. He received a gift of a leather-bound French-English Book of Common Prayer, one of four bilingual texts published by the Convocation of American Churches in Europe. The Patriarch gave his benediction to the packed parish hall before departing.

This event is the second in a series on international affairs hosted at the American Cathedral. In June 2004 Bishop Whalon and Dean Fleetwood welcomed key representatives from the Middle East of the Muslim, Jewish and Christian faiths for a conference on peacemaking.

For more information on Emmanuel III's visit to France see http://www.mission-chaldeenne.org

For more on the June 2004 conference see http://www.childrenofabrahampeacemakers.org/

For more on Bishop's trip to Baghdad, see http://anglicansonline.org/archive/special/iraq/sheherazade and also http://anglicansonline.org/resources/essays/whalon/Back_to_Iraq.html