Vatican City, Dec 3, 2003 / 22:00 pm
On Wednesday afternoon, Pope John Paul II received in audience His Beatitude Emmanuel III Dely, the new Patriarch of Babylonia of the Chaldeans, Iraq, who was elected at the end of the Synod of Bishops of the Chaldean Catholic Church, which took place on December 2-3 at the Vatican.
The new Patriarch succeeds His Beatitude Raphael I Bidawid who died this past July.
The Holy Father granted ecclesiastical communion to the new patriarch in accordance with the established canons.
According to Eastern rite traditions, Chaldean top Church leaders or patriarchs are elected by majority in a council of Chaldean bishops. If bishops cannot elect the patriarch, then the Pope elects one. If one is elected, the Pope accepts him by granting the ecclesiastical communion.