During the visit, al-Zaidi reaffirmed his government’s commitment to preserving Iraq’s religious and ethnic diversity, describing Christians as an “authentic component” and indigenous part of the Iraqi people. He also called on Assyrian business leaders and investors living abroad to return and contribute to reconstruction, economic development, and infrastructure projects across the country.
The meeting comes at a significant moment for Iraq’s Assyrians, who have experienced a dramatic decline over the past two decades due to war, instability, terrorism, and mass migration. Estimates suggest the Assyrian population in Iraq has fallen from approximately 1.5 million in 2003 to around 150,000 today.
Mar Paulos III Nona, born Amel Shamoon Nona in Alqosh, was elected Patriarch of the Chaldean Catholic Church in April following the resignation of Cardinal Louis Raphael Sako. Before his election, he served as Archbishop of Mosul and later as Archbishop of Sydney, where he became well known among the large Assyrian diaspora community in Australia.
According to statements released following the meeting, Patriarch Nona thanked the Prime Minister for his visit and stressed the importance of preserving Iraq’s religious and communal diversity. He also emphasised the need to strengthen investment opportunities and create conditions that encourage Assyrians abroad to reconnect with and invest in their ancestral homeland.
The visit marks one of the first major meetings between the new Patriarch and Iraq’s recently formed government, signalling an effort by Baghdad to strengthen relations with the Assyrian community at a time when concerns remain over continued emigration, demographic decline, and the long-term future of Assyrians in Assyria.
