Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' Al-Sudani on Tuesday publicly endorsed Cardinal Louis Raphael I Sako's bid for the papacy, describing him as "the only candidate from the Middle East" to succeed the late Pope Francis on the Apostolic chair in Rome.
Al-Sudani's endorsement came after an online campaign in Iraq had gained traction supporting Cardinal Sako, Patriarch of the Chaldean Catholic Church, as a possible successor to Pope Francis, whose death was announced on Monday.
In a post on the social media platform X, al-Sudani wrote: "We reaffirm our unwavering support for His Beatitude Cardinal Louis Raphael I Sako, the sole nominee from the Middle East to succeed the late Pope Francis as head of the Holy See in the Vatican. His Beatitude is widely respected both locally and internationally, and he plays a vital role in advancing peace and fostering interfaith tolerance."
"As the sole nominee from our region, His Beatitude embodies the spirit of interfaith harmony and global outreach," he added.
Al-Sudani went on to highlight Iraq's historic role as a cradle of Christianity in the Middle East, noting that Iraqi Christians "have coexisted with followers of other faiths throughout the centuries. Today, our country is home to adherents of all Christian denominations, which stands as a testament to the love and brotherhood shared among believers of different religions."
Iraqi and Kurdish leaders, senior clerics and Christian communities paid tribute to Pope Francis following the announcement of his death on Monday, praising his global role in promoting peace, religious tolerance and solidarity with the oppressed.
Grand Ayatollah Ali Al-Sistani, Iraq's most senior Shia religious authority, expressed his condolences, saying the late pontiff held "A high spiritual status among many peoples of the world" and was held in “great respect globally”.
The Iraqi prime minister also noted that the pope’s life had been devoted to "serving humanity, fostering unity among peoples, and upholding peace and the highest moral and social values".
"We recall with reverence his historic visit to Iraq four years ago and his meeting with Sayyid Ali al-Sistani in Najaf–an event that laid a meaningful foundation for interfaith dialogue and promoted fraternity and compassion among people of all faiths," he added.
The Catholic leader survived an assassination attempt in Iraq in 2021 and later walked among the ruins of churches destroyed by militants from the Islamic State group.