Masarat Foundation expresses its deep satisfaction with the swift response of the Iraqi government in supporting Cardinal Sako’s nomination for the position of the next pope, following the campaign launched by the General Coordinator of the Masarat Foundation yesterday (the next pope could be Iraqi).
In order to clarify the dimensions of this campaign and avoid misunderstandings, such as the idea that the cardinal is nominating himself, and the involvement of many elites in technical discussions unrelated to the nature and dimensions of the campaign, we emphasize the following points:
The call to support Cardinal Sako’s nomination is not related to the technical aspects and conditions of the election within the College of Cardinals, and it does not influence the election.
Support for the nomination takes into account the importance of Sako being Iraqi and having the qualifications to assume the position if elected by the College of Cardinals, and it is a source of pride and support, which is part of Iraq’s soft power.
The call is based on Sako’s qualifications (the right to vote to choose the pope and also to run as a pope), making Sako, who was appointed a cardinal on June 28, 2018, the first Iraqi figure to enter history as the only cardinal from the Middle East with the right to vote and run in the College of Cardinals to choose the pope after the departure of Pope Francis.
On the other hand, the campaign launched by Masarat also takes into consideration the investment of this opportunity to send a message to Christians in Iraq, the East, and Christian communities abroad to support the Iraqi state and its institutions, regardless of whether the idea succeeds or not.
Masarat Foundation
