Obituary: Cardinal Emmanuel III Delly - 'A dove in crimson fields'

Cardinal Emmanuel III Delly

Karem Delly was born in Tel Keppe, in northern Iraq, on September 27, 1927 to Jarjes Murad Delly and Katrina Putros .He was baptized on October 6, 1927 by father Francis Kattola.When he completed his high school education, Delly enrolled at the St Peter seminary in Mosul on September 21, 1940.

After studying philosophy for two years he was sent by Patriarch Emmanuel II Toma to Rome to further his education. Delly obtained a Master's Degree in Philosophy from the Pontifical Urbaniana University. He was ordained a priest on December 21, 1952 by Cardinal Pietro Fumasoni Biondi in Rome, at the Pontifical Urban College of Propaganda Fide.Between 1954 and 1959 Delly obtained his doctorate degrees in Sacred Theology and a doctorate in Canon Law from the Pontifical Lateran University.

On January 30, 1960 he returned to Baghdad and was appointed secretary for Patriarch Paul II Cheikho.He was elevated to Auxiliary bishop, receiving Episcopal ordination on April 19, 1963 at the St Joseph church in Baghdad. Since that year, as Bishop, he became a member of the Second Vatican Council.

During his years as a bishop, he was heavily involved in building many churches and dioceses, both in and out of Iraq. He contributed immensely towards the establishment of the College of Babylon, as a philosophy and theology institution. Also, he spiritually directed the Chaldean monasteries and convents. Delly supervised several Chaldean religious journals and publications. He was renowned for his administrative abilities and love of his people.

On October 19, 2002 he resigned from his post as auxiliary bishop due to his legal age of retirement .Patriarch Bidaweed appointed him as a consultant responsible for all the Chaldean missions overseas.

After the death of Patriarch Bidaweed, Delly was elected Patriarch of the Chaldean Catholic Church on December 3, 2003. He was elevated to cardinal by Pope Benedict XVI in 2007.The pope highlighted the important role of Cardinal Delly in the war-torn nation, he said:” his choice of Patriarch Emmanuel Delly as a cardinal showed his spiritual closeness and affection for Iraq’s Christian.”

The Iraqi Prime Minister said that his nomination "honors all Iraqis and represents a victory for Iraq in its fight against terrorism, extremism, and sectarianism."

His patriarchate in Iraq came at a difficult period. Before he became Patriarch, he had been accidentally injured by shattered glass in an attack. He was strongly concerned about the security situation in Iraq. During these turbulent years the Chaldean Church suffered great losses. Most notably, the young priest, Father Ragheed Ganni and the Chaldean Archbishop Paulos Faraj Rahho.

Cardinal Delly was considered a defender of Christians in Iraq. He called for prayers and peace as he witnessed attacks on Christian sites in Iraq. He was a strong voice against the conflict and tragedy in the region. He has expressed criticisms about upsurges in violence against Christians. He has taken efforts to improve the population's morale, maintain friendly relations with Islamic leaders and worked hard for the release of
kidnapping victims. The cardinal, who has been outspoken in the past about the need to protect Christians, called for unity among Iraqis of all faiths. In these difficult and enduring times, the Patriarch had to tread carefully to protect his flock. The gracious Patriarch felt the pain and the unmerited ordeals of the innocent Iraqi people both Christians and Moslems. With his stout heart bearing the burdens of the Iraqi people he was fully and unequivocally committed to

Cardinal Delly was well known for his respect and cooperation with leaders of other churches and faiths including Muslims. He acted as a spiritual father, not only to the whole Chaldean Church, now scattered all over the world, but to all Christians in Iraq.

With the Iraqi economy in tatters with high unemployment and inflation and a general hopelessness, the tide of life ebbed away from the Iraqi people. Thousands of Catholic Christians left Iraq for better living conditions abroad. Patriarch Delly always appealed to those Iraqis who have fled the country to return.

On 19 December, 2012 Cardinal Delly resigned from his post as patriarch of the Chaldean Catholic Church due to his ill health. He left Iraq to the United States for medical treatment and stayed under the care of Chaldean nuns.

The cardinal died on Wednesday morning, April 9, 2014, in a hospital in San Diego, California, at the age of 87. He’s survived by two sisters and one brother.

His funeral was celebrated on Thursday, April 10 in San Diego and he will be buried in Detroit, Michigan, where his closest relatives live.

The current Patriarch Mar Loiuse I Sako lamented: “Cardinal Delly served the Chaldean Church for more than sixty years with dedication, first as a priest and then as bishop and as patriarch. He suffered moments of difficulty: the revolution in 1958; the wars in the last decades; the persecution of Christians that followed the US –led invasion of Iraq. In all this time he remained loyal to his country and to his people, he did not abandon his flock, he remained with his faithful, praying, helping, encouraging them.”

Pope Francis sent a telegram to the patriarch of Babylon of the Chaldeans, Louis I Sako, expressing his condolences. Francis expressed that he was “deeply saddened” to hear of the death of Cardinal Emmanuel III Delly. Francis' message of condolence also assured the Iraqi people of his prayers: “I offer you, the clergy, men and women religious, and lay faithful of the Patriarchate, both in Iraq and in the Diaspora, my condolences and the assurance of my prayers.

I recall with deep gratitude the late Patriarch’s dedication to his people and to the promotion of respectful, just and peaceful relations with followers of other religious traditions.”

“I join you and all who mourn the passing of this esteemed Pastor in commending his noble soul to the infinite mercy of God our loving Father, and I cordially impart my Apostolic Blessing as a pledge of peace and hope in the Lord.”