The Righteous Shepherd Who Left Us in Silence
The life of the late Bishop Mar Paulus Thabet Mako
By Hanan Qia
On the morning of Tuesday, June 18, 2025, sorrow swept over the town of Alqosh and touched every Chaldean household in Iraq and the diaspora. The faithful mourned the passing of His Excellency Bishop Mar Paulus Thabet Habib Mako, shepherd of the Chaldean Diocese of Alqosh, who died at the age of 49. He devoted his life to his faith and the Church, walking alongside his people through both hardship and peace.
From Karmles to the Priesthood
Mar Paulus Thabet was born in the town of Karmles in 1976, into the venerable Kdo family, which had settled there in 1830. He completed his primary and secondary education locally before earning a bachelor’s degree in earth sciences. Soon after, he answered the call to priesthood.
In 2002, he joined the Shimon Al-Safa Seminary in Baghdad to begin his formation. In 2005, he was sent to Rome, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in theology and later a master’s degree in patristics.
A Priest in Times of Trial
He was ordained a priest on July 25, 2008, at the Church of Mar Adi in Karmles by the late Patriarch Mar Emmanuel Delly. He served in his hometown until the summer of 2014, when ISIS swept through the Nineveh Plains, forcing tens of thousands of Christians to flee.
In that moment of crisis, Father Thabet relocated with his displaced flock to Ainkawa, Erbil, on August 7, 2014. There, he provided pastoral and spiritual care to the families from Nineveh and Mosul who had lost everything. His steadfast presence was a source of comfort and strength, remaining with the community until they could return home after liberation.
From Auxiliary Bishop to Diocesan Bishop
In August 2021, the Chaldean Synod elected him auxiliary bishop of the Alqosh Diocese. His appointment was announced on August 14, and he was consecrated as bishop on October 22, 2021, by His Beatitude Cardinal Louis Raphael Sako. On November 28, 2022, he was officially installed as the diocesan bishop of Alqosh in a large ceremony attended by many of the faithful from the Nineveh Plains.
A Faithful Shepherd and Guardian of Identity
From the start of his episcopal ministry, Mar Paulus was deeply committed to preserving Chaldean identity. He zealously guarded the authenticity of the Chaldean rite, language, chants and traditions, and he actively supported initiatives to preserve the Church’s cultural heritage in Alqosh.
He was a familiar presence at festivals and religious processions, where his leadership and resonant voice left a lasting impact on his people, who loved him dearly.
A Fatherly Presence in the Diaspora
Mar Paulus visited the Chaldean Community Foundation in the United States several times during his ministry, meeting with members of the diaspora, listening to their concerns, and offering spiritual guidance. He carried the homeland and the Church close to his heart, firmly believing that the connection between the homeland and diaspora formed one united body in Christ.
A Solemn Farewell and Widespread Condolences
The funeral Mass was celebrated on Thursday, June 19, 2025, at 11 a.m. at Alqosh Church, led by His Beatitude Cardinal Louis Raphael Sako, Patriarch of the Chaldean Catholic Church. Later that afternoon, the bishop’s body was laid to rest in Karmles at 4 p.m., in the presence of hundreds from Karmles, Alqosh and the Nineveh Plains.
Churches and Christian communities across Iraq mourned his loss, as people from various Iraqi backgrounds attended the funeral and offered their condolences, reflecting the widespread love and respect he had earned.
An Everlasting Legacy
With his passing, the Chaldean Church has lost a shepherd, father, brother and a steady voice of faithfulness, but his spiritual legacy will continue to bear fruit in Alqosh and throughout the Nineveh Plains.
You have left us on earth, yet you remain in our liturgies, in our processions, and in the language of our prayers.
Grant him eternal rest, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him. May his memory be eternal.
timeline
Bishop Paul Thabet Habib Yousif Al Mekko
1976 Born in Karamles on February 14
1976 Baptized March 26 at Mar Addi Church
2002 Joined Shimon Al-Safa Seminary in Baghdad
2005 Sent to Rome to study theology and patristics
2008 Ordained priest on July 25 in Mosul
2011 Served at Mar Addi in Karamles
2014 Served the displaced/relief for Chaldean refugees in Erbil
2017 Worked on rebuilding Karamles
2021 Appointed Coadjutor Bishop of Alqosh on August 14
2021 Ordained Coadjutor Bishop of Alqosh on October 22
2022 Succeeded Bishop of Alqosh on October 8
2022 Officially installed as Bishop of Alqosh in ceremony on November 28
2024 Visted the Chaldean Community Foundation in Michigan
2025 Died in Alqosh on June 18