Polis III Nona Installed as New Patriarch of Chaldean Catholic Church on June 1

Polis III Nona, the former Archbishop of Mosul and Sydney, was installed as the new worldwide patriarch of the Chaldean Catholic Church on June 1, 2026, taking leadership of a church with a significant presence in Iraq and the global diaspora.

The Chaldean Catholic Church follows the Eastern Rite and is in full communion with Rome. It has faced severe challenges in recent years as violence and instability in Iraq have driven large numbers of Chaldean Christians to emigrate. The installation of Polis III Nona marks a new chapter for the church as it navigates both the needs of its Iraqi homeland and its growing diaspora communities in Australia, the United States, and Europe.

Polis III Nona previously served as Archbishop of Mosul, one of the cities most affected by the rise of the Islamic State in 2014, when Christians were forced to flee en masse. He later served as Archbishop of Sydney, where he ministered to a large Chaldean diaspora community.

On the same day, Pope Leo XIV issued an urgent call for world peace during an address at the Grotto of Lourdes in the Vatican Gardens. The Pope emphasized that peace must be a daily commitment to justice and love, starting with small actions such as abstaining from verbal and physical violence in daily life and on social media.

June 1, 2026, was also marked as the memorial of Saint Justin, Martyr, with Vatican liturgical readings focusing on the Parable of the Unfaithful Tenants from Mark 12:1-12. Commentaries reflected on the responsibility of those in authority to remain faithful to the cornerstone of Christ.

The Religion Media Centre's morning bulletin noted that the day's Christian news also included a 30-day prayer initiative for Canada that began June 1, encouraging Christians to unite in prayer for revival, evangelism, and the strength of local churches.