Syriac Catholic Patriarch alleges Vatican prefect is seeking his ouster (Pillar)

Syriac Catholic Patriarch Ignatius Joseph III Yonan alleges that Cardinal Claudio Gugerotti, the prefect of the Dicastery for the Eastern Churches, is attempting to remove him and other Eastern Catholic patriarchs from their positions. Yonan told The Pillar that the prefect has openly stated for two years that he is trying to have several patriarchs dismissed and noted that most patriarchs are unhappy with the prefect's behavior.

The allegations follow an August 29 amendment by Pope Leo XIV to the Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches. This change allows Eastern Catholic synods to remove patriarchs and major archbishops if communion between the church head and the synod is seriously and irreparably damaged. Following this change, the Syriac Catholic Church synod of bishops began the process of deposing Yonan, who has led the church since 2009.