The Speech of His Beatitude Patriarch Paul III Nona at St. Thomas Cathedral in Sydney

Below is the speech delivered by His Beatitude Patriarch Paul III Nona, Patriarch of the Chaldean Church, at St. Thomas the Apostle Cathedral in Sydney, Australia:

The graces and blessings of God are indeed far greater than our expectations. Therefore, the one thing we can do is to raise to Him a profound and sincere thanksgiving for His fatherly faithfulness, revealed in the new paths through which He leads us.

Today, I offer my deep gratitude to God our Father, and to our Lord Jesus Christ, for this new mission entrusted to me. I humbly seek the strength of the Holy Spirit to guide me, and to guide the whole Church, so that together we may walk in Christ to bear faithful witness, and to serve with dedication and hope.

Moreover, I would like to acknowledge with deep gratitude, the distinguished presence of:

– His Eminences. Cardinal Mykola Bychok, Bishop of St. Peter and Paul Diocese of Melbourne

– Most Reverend. Archbishop Anthony Fisher, Archbishop of Sydney

– Most Rev. Robert Rabbat, Bishop of the Melkite Church of Australia and New Zealand and Oceania and president of the AMEC

I would also extend my sincere and heartfelt gratitude for all my brothers Bishops, Chorbishops, reverend fathers, sisters, deacons, as well as the distinguished gusts, the official and all our dearest faithful of our Chaldean Diocese, and gusts, your attendance, your warm congratulations, deep joy and sincere love is a meaningful sign of respect, communion, and shared commitment to the life and mission of the Church.

Thank you, and may God bless you all

The notion of being chosen for a new mission is not extraordinary in itself; however, what truly matter and has deepest importance, is the nature of that mission entrusted to us. In the life of faith, the act of making choices holds a profound importance, and the purpose of that choice is equally important.

We are those who are chosen, not those who choose, and since this choice reaches us, not being made by our own, likewise is the purpose of the choice, it comes to us and is not determined by us either.

In this regard, we are faced with a fundamental question: why is there a choice, and what is the meaning of its purpose? Personally, I cannot claim to offer a complete answer for this question, yet I firmly believe that the believer is not called to seek being chosen, but to live the reality of being chosen which reflects faith itself.

This faith is to be lived with joy, simplicity, and with a deep trust that the present moment, the time and stage entrusted to us is what truly matters. It is to live as the whole world is within that very moment. Then, whatever one is chosen for, he will be able to accept it with joy, simplicity, and deep believing in living with faith.

This principle remains essential for us since we are not called to seek the act of being chosen, but to seek and live according to the purpose of every choice, which is faith.

When I was asked whether I would accept the election of the Bishops, I found no answer within me but to say “yes.” For that “yes” is, and must always be, the continuation of a journey, not the beginning of one.

Thus, I gave my “yes” to the choice of the Lord, made apparent through my most reverend brother Chaldean Bishops.

During my ministry in Australia, I have attempted, just as in other stages in my life before, to live the faith of the Church with joy, simplicity, and a steadfast trust, that what matters most is a faithful service that we do now, in the present moment.

Australia, as a land, and the people I have come to know, together with my brothers, the bishops and the faithful of my Diocese, have enriched my capacity to serve and have deepened and matured my vision of life. Therefore, each of you holds a meaningful share within the “yes” I have given to my election as the Patriarch of the Chaldean Church. You have all contributed to this choice and answer, and for this, I extend my heartfelt gratitude to you all.

Our Chaldean Church is an ancient and venerable Church, whose roots reach back to the close of the first century. Throughout its long history, it has endured every form of suffering and hardship, as well as moments of great flourishing.

These sufferings and hardships have shaped our Church into a living Church, one that is not confined by land, place, or civil authority, but is only bound by the Christian faith we profess and express through the Eastern tradition wherever we dwell. For this reason, we, the sons and daughters of this Church, recognise our “land” as wherever we can live and proclaim our faith with strength, with passion, with intensity, and with courage.

What matters to us is not a land defined by geography, nor authority shaped by the world, but the living ground of faith itself.

All of this has formed our ecclesial identity as sons and daughters of the Chaldean Church.

Wherever we may find ourselves in this world, we remain faithful children to our Church: we live our hope with strength, and we defend our faith with love and apostolic passion.

The challenges facing our Church are indeed great, but our faith is greater, and stronger.

I ask you, first and foremost, to pray for our Chaldean Church throughout the world. And I humbly ask you also to remember me in your prayers, for I stand in great need of them as I begin this new chapter of living out my “yes” in the life of the Church as a father, and as a shepherd.

This speech was originally published on the Website the Chaldean Church.