Polis III Nona
Patriarch
TitlePatriarch of Baghdad of the Chaldeans
SeeBaghdad
ElectedApril 12, 2026
Term startMay 29, 2026
PredecessorLouis Raphaël I Sako
OrdinationJanuary 11, 1991
ConsecrationJanuary 8, 2010
Consecrated byEmmanuel III Delly
Birth dateNovember 1, 1967 (age 58)
Birth placeAlqosh, Iraq
Birth nameAmel Shamoon Nona
Previous post
  • Chaldean Catholic Archbishop of Saint Thomas the Apostle of Sydney (2015–2026)
  • Archbishop of Mosul (2010–2015)
ReligionChaldean Catholic
EducationPontifical Lateran University
Honorific prefixMar
ProvinceBaghdad
ResidenceBaghdad

Polis III Nona (born Amel Shamoon Nona; November 1, 1967) is an Iraqi Catholic hierarch who has served as Chaldean Catholic Patriarch of Baghdad since 2026. He previously served as Archbishop of Saint Thomas the Apostle of Sydney from 2015 to 2026, and as Archbishop of Mosul from 2010 to 2015, including his exile amid the ISIS takeover in his region.

Early life

Amel Shamoon Nona, an Assyro-Chaldean, was born in Alqosh in 1967. After completing his secondary education in 1986, he entered the Chaldean Patriarchal Seminary and was ordained priest on January 11, 1991 in Baghdad. From 1993 to 1997 he was parochial vicar at Alqosh, then pastor until 2000. In 2000, he enrolled at the Pontifical Lateran University. In 2005 he obtained a doctorate in theological anthropology and returned home. From 2005 he served as a professor of anthropology at the Babel College. Later, he was named vicar general of the Chaldean Catholic eparchy (diocese) of Alqosh. He speaks Arabic, Syriac, English and Italian.[1]

Archbishop of Mosul

On May 5, 2009, the Synod of Bishops of the Chaldean Catholic Church elected Nona as Archeparch of Mosul. Pope Benedict XVI gave his consent to Nona's election on November 13, 2009. He was ordained a bishop on January 8, 2010, with Mar Emmanuel III Delly, patriarch of Babylon, as principal consecrator.[2] At the age of 42, Nona was the youngest Catholic archbishop in the world.[citation needed]

Speaking on the violence in Iraq in 2014, Nona said that all the Christians who were still living there had fled. Nona, corroborated this while speaking with the worldwide Catholic relief service Aid to the Church in Need: "All the faithful have left the city. Who knows whether they will ever be able to return. In 2003 there were still 35,000 faithful living in Mosul. Three thousand were still there in early 2014. Now probably not one is left here, and that is tragic." Nona went into exile because of the violence.[3]

Shortly after his exile began, Nona gave an interview in which he warned the West against accepting Muslims into their communities:[4]

Please, try to understand us. Your liberal and democratic principles are worth nothing here. You must consider again our reality in the Middle East, because you are welcoming in your countries an ever growing number of Muslims. Also you are in danger. You must take strong and courageous decisions, even at the cost of contradicting your principles. You think all men are equal, but that is not true: Islam does not say that all men are equal. Your values are not their values. If you do not understand this soon enough, you will become the victims of the enemy you have welcomed in your home.

Archbishop of Australia and New Zealand

Nona was installed as archbishop of the Chaldean church in Australia & New Zealand on March 7, 2015. He succeeded Jibrail Kassab following his retirement.

During his 11 years as archbishop, he worked tirelessly in the Diocese of St. Thomas. He formed unique spirituality for the faithful based on Chaldean traditions, rooted in the Catholic Faith throughout his presentations, talks, publications and sermons. He attended six youth conventions. He built and consecrated St. George Chaldean Catholic Church in Melbourne, Australia. He built and consecrated St. Joseph Chaldean Catholic Church in Mount Druitt, Australia. Built and opened a childcare centre at St. Thomas the Apostle Cathedral. Purchased land in Catherine Field, Australia for a proposed Church. Designed and planned for a youth centre and childcare centre in Fairfield. Opened and blessed a childcare centre in St. Addai Chaldean Catholic Church New Zealand. Laid the corner stone of the Convent for nuns in Horsley Park, NSW. He ordained Rodi Sitto, Mahir Murad and Salim Goga into priesthood and more than 200 men and women to the order of deacon.[5][6]

He remained archbishop until his election as Patriarch of the Chaldean Catholic Church on April 12, 2026.

Patriarch of Baghdad

On April 12, 2026, the Synod of Bishops of the Chaldean Catholic Church elected Nona Patriarch of Baghdad. He took the name "Paul III" upon his election.[7][8][9][10] On April 15, 2026, he announced that Karam Shamasha will be his personal secretary and Director of the Secretariat Office.[11] On April 16, 2026, he announced Albert Hisham Naoum as Director of the Patriarchal Media Office.[12]

In a letter dated April 24, 2026, Pope Leo XIV assented to his election and granted Nona the ecclesiastica communio (ecclesiastical communion).[13][14]

On April 26, 2026, he presided over his First Holy Sunday mass in the Cathedral of St. Thomas the Apostle in Bossley Park.[15] Later, on the same day, he presided over a Holy mass in English. In the concluding rite he stated that "This is the last mass, English Mass, I do in this church before I leave to Baghdad, to Iraq. To start a new mission as a Patriarch of our Church".

On April 27, 2026, he announced Jenan Shamil Aziz as Head of the Patriarchal Chancery and also announced David Dominic Stephen as Second Secretary in the Patriarchal Secretariat.[16]

On May 9, 2026, he opened a new podcast studio in Our Lady Guardian of Plants Chaldean Catholic Church, Melbourne Australia. He later sat and conducted a interview. He was asked by Mahir Murad, "I want to shift the conversation to the name that you've picked Mar Polis. Why why did you choose that name?" He replied "I chose the name polis in reference to two persons. The first is Saint Paul, because he is a profound figure — a great theologian and a teacher who conveys the faith with depth, while at the same time carrying an apostolic zeal to proclaim this theology and to teach the faith to others. The second person is Patriarch Polis II Cheikho, who was an example of humility and pastoral care. For these two reasons, I chose the name Paul."[17]

On the Feast of the Ascension of the Lord, May 14, 2026, He ordained over 45 men and women to the order of deacons through the laying of the hands.

He was installed as Patriarch of Baghdad of the Chaldeans on May 29, 2026, in St. Joseph Chaldean Cathedral in Baghdad.[18]

On May 30, 2026, Pope Leo[19] has appointed Mar Polis III Nona, as member of the Dicastery for the Eastern Churches.[20]

References

  1. ^ "Rinunce e Nomine – Assenso all’Elezione dell’Arcivescovo di Mossul dei Caldei(Iraq)" (in Italian). Holy See Press Office. 2009-11-13. Retrieved 2012-08-21.
  2. ^ "Archbishop Emil Shimoun Nona". Catholic Hierarchy. Retrieved 2012-08-21.
  3. ^ "Iraq: "All the Christians have fled Mosul"". www.catholicworldreport.com. Archived 2017-02-02 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2026-04-11.
  4. ^ "Iraqi bishop warns that West will suffer from Islamism". Catholic News Agency. August 19, 2014. Retrieved June 2, 2017.
  5. ^ "www.youtube.com/watch?v=wt6MOXUwXcM&t=3615s"
  6. ^ "www.youtube.com/watch?v=VfXTEZGvTgI"
  7. ^ Rodrigues, Marilyn (2026-04-14). "Sydney-based Chaldean archbishop elected global patriarch". The Catholic Weekly. Retrieved 2026-04-14.
  8. ^ "Archbishop Nona elected new Patriarch of the Chaldean Catholic Church - Vatican News". www.vaticannews.va. 2026-04-12. Retrieved 2026-04-14.
  9. ^ Hudson, Patrick (2026-04-13). "Chaldean Synod elects new Patriarch of Baghdad to succeed Cardinal Sako". The Tablet. Retrieved 2026-04-14.
  10. ^ "From the Eastern Churches". Press Office of the Holy See. Retrieved 2026-04-16.
  11. ^ "chaldeanpatriarchate.com/2026/04/15/%d8%a8%d9%8a%d8%a7%d9%86-%d8%a8%d8%b7%d8%b1%d9%8a%d8%b1%d9%83%d9%8a-%d9%a1/"
  12. ^ "chaldeanpatriarchate.com/2026/04/16/%d8%a8%d9%8a%d8%a7%d9%86-%d8%a8%d8%b7%d8%b1%d9%8a%d8%b1%d9%83%d9%8a/"
  13. ^ "Concession of the Ecclesiastica Communio to the new Patriarch of Baghdad of the Chaldeans". press.vatican.va. Retrieved 2026-04-28.
  14. ^ "Pope grants ecclesiastical communion to Chaldean Patriarch - Vatican News". Vatican News. 2026-04-28. Retrieved 2026-04-29.
  15. ^ "www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ux8sNQa2koY"
  16. ^ "chaldeanpatriarchate.com/2026/04/27/%d8%a8%d9%8a%d8%a7%d9%86-%d8%a8%d8%b7%d8%b1%d9%8a%d8%b1%d9%83%d9%8a-%d8%aa%d8%b9%d9%8a%d9%8a%d9%86-%d8%b3%d9%83%d8%b1%d8%aa%d9%8a%d8%b1-%d8%ab%d8%a7%d9%86%d9%8a-%d9%81%d9%8a-%d8%b3%d9%83%d8%b1%d8%aa/"
  17. ^ "www.youtube.com/watch?v=8M0MPSfdYwk&list=PL9Psz0SnyAPJ1FGJvc33U7LXr_1hchqzV"
  18. ^ "chaldeanpatriarchate.com/2026/04/23/%d9%85%d9%88%d8%b9%d8%af-%d8%aa%d9%86%d8%b5%d9%8a%d8%a8-%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%a8%d8%b7%d8%b1%d9%8a%d8%b1%d9%83-%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%ac%d8%af%d9%8a%d8%af-%d9%81%d9%8a-%d8%a8%d8%ba%d8%af%d8%a7%d8%af%d9%a1%d9%a2/"
  19. ^ "en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pope_Leo_XIV"
  20. ^ "press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/bollettino/pubblico/2026/05/30/260530e.html"