Chaldean Church changes procedure for electing bishops

The Synod of Bishops of the Chaldean Catholic Church has agreed to a new procedure for electing bishops to allow members more time to study candidate profiles before voting. Patriarch Paul III Nona announced the decision following a synodal assembly held in Rome from October 16 to 19.

The new mechanism is intended to facilitate a more thorough examination of candidates for the episcopacy. This system will be implemented at the next synodal meeting, though specific operational details have not been released.

The reform comes as at least one third of the 23 Chaldean ecclesiastical jurisdictions currently lack a residential bishop. Vacant or provisionally administered sees include the eparchy of Alqosh in Iraq; the jurisdictions of Ahvaz, Salmas, and Urmia in Iran; the archieparchy of Amida in Turkey; and the eparchy of El Cair.