Cardinal Louis Raphael Sako, the Patriarch of the Chaldean Catholic Church, has spoken out in a press conference regarding the support offered to him by the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) President Masoud Barzani and the Kurdistan Region. He emphasized the lack of assistance from the Iraqi government during attacks by groups like al-Qaeda and ISIS on Christians in Iraq. According to Cardinal Sako, the Iraqi government failed to provide protection and accommodation for Christians in these trying times.

Furthermore, Cardinal Sako disclosed that when they sought help from the Iraqi prime minister, they were met with the response that the government lacked the financial resources to offer assistance. His return to Baghdad was reportedly supported by the Kurdistan Region and initiated by Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, with international pressure also playing a role.

Cardinal Sako criticized Iraqi President Abdul Latif Rasheed's decision in July 2023 to revoke a 2013 presidential decree recognizing him as the head of the Chaldean Catholic Church and custodian of the church's assets. This move has sparked widespread condemnation from Christians in Iraq and abroad, who fear it is part of a broader campaign against the already vulnerable Christian community.

The cardinal's remarks shed light on the challenges faced by Christians in Iraq and the complex dynamics between different political entities in the country.