Paulos Faraj Rahho

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Paulos Faraj Rahho
Senior posting
See Archeparchy of Mosul
Title Archbishop of the Eparchy of Mosul
Period in office January 12, 2001—2008, Killed - body found March 13, 2008
Predecessor George Garmo
Successor vacant
Religious career
Priestly ordination June 10, 1965
Previous bishoprics none
Previous post Priest
Personal
Date of birth November 20, 1942
Place of birth Mosul, Iraq
Date of death March, 2008 (aged 65)
Place of death Mosul, Iraq

Paulos Faraj Rahho (Arabic: بولس فرج رحو‎, Būlus Farağ Raḥū; Syriac: ܦܘܠܘܣ ܦ̮ܪܔ ܪܚܘ, Paulōs Farağ Raḥō; ‎November 20, 1942 – February or March 2008) was the Chaldean Catholic Archbishop of Mosul,[1] in the northern part of Iraq.

Also known as Paul Faraj Rahho and Paulos Faradsch Raho, he lived almost his entire life in Mosul, Iraq, in the heart of the geographic and cultural region in the Middle East known as the Assyrian homeland, which has a long established community of Chaldean Christians.

Contents

[edit] Biography

Paulos Faraj Rahho was born in 1942 in Mosul. He spent nearly all his life in Mosul, a city with one of the largest and oldest Christian populations in Iraq. In 1954 he entered the St. Peter's junior and major seminary in Baghdad in order to become a priest. Following a brief spell working there after his ordination on June 10, 1965, he was appointed to St. Isaiah's Church in Mosul.[1] Rahho later founded the church of the Sacred Heart in Tel Keppe, a new district of Mosul. He also opened an orphanage for handicapped children.[1]

[edit] Archbishop of Mosul

In 2001, Pope John Paul II appointed him archbishop of the Archeparchy of Mosul. On February 16, 2001, he was ordained Chaldean Archbishop of Mosul, giving him responsibility for around 20,000 Catholics in ten parishes. He was ordained by the Patriarch of Babylon Archbishop Raphael I Bidawid, André Sana, Archbishop of Akre, and Sana Abdul-Ahad, Bishop of Alqosh. His church is known in Mosul as Safina (The Ship), but parishioners called it the Holy Spirit Church.[2]

[edit] Unease with Sharia

Rahho expressed disquiet at the moves to incorporate Sharia law more fundamentally into the Iraqi constitution, and continued throughout his life to lead worship in difficult situations. During his 2007 trip to Rome, with the patriarch of Babylon Emmanuel III Delly who was then appointed cardinal, Rahho confided that he had been threatened by gunmen in his native town.[1] Following the start of the Iraq war, persecution of Christians increased dramatically.

[edit] Kidnapping and death

Late on February 29, 2008, according to a report given by the Catholic News Service, Archbishop Rahho was kidnapped from his car in the Al-Nur district of the city; his bodyguards and driver were killed.[3] Ishtar TV said the kidnappers moved Rahho three times during the two weeks of captivity because the area where they were holding Rahho was raided twice. The kidnappers demanded Assyrian Christians contribute to the jihad, through jizya. [4] The captors also demanded the release of Arab (Non-Iraqi) detainees and that they be paid three million dollars for Rahho's release. [5] The kidnappers also demanded the Assyrian Christians to form a militia to fight the US forces.[6]

On March 13, 2008, it was reported that the Archbishop's body had been found buried in a shallow grave near Mosul.[7][8] Officials of the Chaldean Church in Iraq said they had received a call telling them where the body was buried. Reports over the cause of death were contradictory.[9] An official of the morgue in Mosul said the archbishop, who had health problems, including high blood pressure and diabetes, might have died of natural causes. Police at the Mosul morgue said the Archbishop appeared to have been dead a week and his body bore no bullet wounds.[9] According to church officials, gunmen sprayed the Archbishop's car with bullets, killed two bodyguards and shoved the bishop into the trunk of a car. In the darkness, he managed to pull out his cellphone and call the church, telling officials not to pay a ransom for his release, they said. "He believed that this money would not be paid for good works and would be used for killing and more evil actions," the officials said.[10] Other reports stated that also investigators believed the archbishop may have been shot at the time of the kidnapping.[11] Nineveh Deputy Governor Khasro Goran stated that when relatives and authorities went to the location specified by the kidnappers and found the body, it had "gunshot wounds".[11]

Archbishop Paulos Faraj Rahho is believed to be the highest-ranking Chaldean Catholic clergyman to have been brought to death in the current Iraq war.[12]

[edit] International reactions

  • Flag of the Vatican City The Vatican: Pope Benedict XVI stated the murder was "an act of inhuman violence that offends the dignity of the human being."[13] "The pope also denounced the 5-year-long Iraq war, saying it had provoked the complete breakup of Iraqi civilian life. 'Enough with the slaughters. Enough with the violence. Enough with the hatred in Iraq!' Benedict said to applause at the end of his Palm Sunday Mass in St. Peter's Square."[14]
  • Flag of Iraq Iraq: Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki said "the attack was the work of a criminal gang intent on provoking religious strife."[15]
  • Flag of the United Kingdom United Kingdom: British Foreign Secretary David Miliband said "His [Archbishop Rahho's] kidnapping was a cowardly act perpetrated by individuals who have rejected dialogue and peaceful politics. His killing represents an appalling act of premeditated violence. My thoughts are with the Archbishop's family."[16]
  • Flag of the United States United States: President Bush was quoted as saying "I send my condolences to the Chaldean community and the people of Iraq. The terrorists will continue to lose in Iraq because they are savage and cruel."[17] The Arab American Institute said "This despicable act against a peaceful leader of a vulnerable (Assyrian-Chaldean) minority community violates every moral code."[18]
  • Chaldean Catholic Church: Patriarch Emmanuel III Delly, who broke down and wept during funeral services in Karamles, urged Assyrian Christians on Friday not to seek revenge for the death of the archbishop.[19]

[edit] Aftermath

One of the killers named Ahmed Ali Ahmed was found and arested. Ahmed was a Al-Qaida in Iraq cell leader in Mosul. On May 19, 2008, the Iraqi Central Criminal Court sentenced Ahmed to death. [20] However, high representatives of the Caldean Catholic Church opposed the death sentence [21] [22]

[edit] Quotes

Assyrian-Chaldean children protesting the death of Mar Paulos in Tel Keppe.
Assyrian-Chaldean children protesting the death of Mar Paulos in Tel Keppe.
“ We, Christians of Mesopotamia, are used to religious persecution and pressures by those in power. After Constantine, persecution ended only for Western Christians, whereas in the East threats continued. Even today we continue to be a Church of martyrs. „

—Mar Paulos on November 26, 2007, three months before he was found murdered.[23]

In his will, Rahho emphasized on working with people of different faiths in the Mosul region;

“

I call upon all of you to be open to our Muslim and Yazidi brothers and to all the children of our Beloved Homeland, to work together to build solid ties of love and brotherhood among the children of our Beloved Country, Iraq.[24]

 „

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c d Archbishop Paul Faraj Rahho: The Times obituary. March 14, 2008.
  2. ^ Kidnapped Iraqi Archbishop Is Dead, The New York Times, March 14, 2008.
  3. ^ Kidnappers take Iraqi Archbishop, Kill his three companions. Catholic News Service. Retrieved on 2008-03-14.
  4. ^ Kidnappers of Mosul bishop, raise the ransom
  5. ^ Kidnappers of Mosul bishop, raise the ransom
  6. ^ Archbishop’s kidnappers demand to form Christian militia, by Aswat Al-Iraq (Voices of Iraq.)
  7. ^ Iraqi archbishop found dead, al Qaeda blamed. Reuters. Retrieved on 2008-03-13..
  8. ^ Kidnapped Iraqi archbishop dead. BBC News. Retrieved on 2008-03-13.
  9. ^ a b Iraqi police, Mehdi militia clash despite truce. Reuters. Retrieved on 2008-03-14.
  10. ^ Kidnapped Iraqi Archbishop Is Dead. The New York Times. Retrieved on 2008-03-14.
  11. ^ a b Source: U.S. sent severed fingers of Iraq kidnap victims. CNN. Retrieved on 2008-03-13.
  12. ^ Christians besieged in Iraq. BBC News. Retrieved on 2008-03-15.
  13. ^ Pope says Iraq archbishop death "inhuman violence". Retrieved on 2008-03-15.
  14. ^ Nicole Winfield, "Pope: Enough with slaughters in Iraq," , Associated Press, online, Mar 16, 2008.
  15. ^ Iraqi archibishop's killing condemned. Radio New Zealand News. Retrieved on 2008-03-15.
  16. ^ Killing of Iraq archbishop 'appalling,' says Miliband. Iranian Islamic Republic News Agency. Retrieved on 2008-03-14.
  17. ^ Bush condemns Iraq archbishop's 'murder'. AFP. Retrieved on 2008-03-15.
  18. ^ AAI Statement on the Kidnapping of Chaldean Archbishop Paulos Faraj Rahho. Retrieved on 2008-03-15.
  19. ^ Weeping Christians bury Iraqi archbishop. AFP. Retrieved on 2008-03-15.
  20. ^ Iraq to execute al Qaeda leader in bishop murder. Reuters (2008-05-18). Retrieved on 2008-05-21.
  21. ^ Iraqi Bishop Assails Execution of Prelate's Abductor. ZENIT (2008-05-20). Retrieved on 2008-05-21.
  22. ^ Catholic World News : Iraqi bishops oppose execution of prelate's convicted killer. Catholic World Nes (2008-05-20). Retrieved on 2008-05-21.
  23. ^ IRAQ Despite being left at the mercy of terrorists, Christians continue to hope, says bishop of Mosul - Asia News
  24. ^ ankawa.com » Blog Archive » Love for our “Muslim brothers and for Iraq” in Mgr Rahho’s Will

[edit] External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:
Preceded by
Mar George Garmo		 Chaldean Catholic Archbishop of Mosul
2001 – 2008		 Succeeded by
vacant
Persondata
NAME Rahho, Paulos Faraj
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Paulos Faradsch Raho; Paul Faraj Rahho; (Arabic: بولص فرج رحو‎)
SHORT DESCRIPTION Chaldean Catholic Archbishop of Mosul
DATE OF BIRTH November 20, 1942
PLACE OF BIRTH Mosul, Iraq
DATE OF DEATH March, 2008
PLACE OF DEATH Mosul, Iraq