His beatitude Patriarch Emmanuel III Delly arrived to the diocese of Arbil (Northern Iraq) on the occasion of the Chaldean Synod that will be held next week.  For his reception, came out Bishop Rabban Qass Rabban, bishop of Amadiyah (Duhok-northern Iraq), and the patriarchal administrator of the Diocese of Arbil along with the clergy of the city of Ankawa.  In the reception was Mr. Sakees Agha Gian, the deputy prime minister of  the government of Kurdistan, along with the head of security of Ankawa city, the mayor and many other personnel with many of our Chaldean people in Ankawa.

Immediately after his arrival the patriarch addressed a speech to the crowd gathered at St. Joseph Chaldean Cathedral of Ankawa.  He thanked all of them for the warm reception he received.  He prayed also for peace in Iraq and for its entire people, Christians and non Christians.  Later on, the patriarch received the newly arrived Chaldean bishops to the Synod who are the following:

• Bishop Shlemon Warduni (Patriarchal administrator in Baghdad).
• Bishop Jacques Isaaq (Patriarchal administrator in Baghdad and dean of Babylon College).
• Bishop Andrew Abuna (Patriarchal administrator in Baghdad).
• Archbishop Gabriel Kassab (Diocese of Basra).
• The secretary of the Apostolic Nuncio- Baghdad.
• Fr. Basil Yaldo, the secretary of his beatitude.
• Fr. Azad Sabri, rector of the seminary for minors- Baghdad.