New Assyrian Patriarch Trained at Chicago Seminary (Chicago, Illinois)

Mar Awa Royel, the newly elected patriarch of the Assyrian Church of the East, was raised in Chicago and received his theological education at the University of St. Mary of the Lake. His journey reflects a broader trend of Assyrian Church leaders seeking academic and spiritual formation in Catholic institutions. The university, known for training Catholic prelates, now counts a leader of the Assyrian Church among its alumni.

Elected in September 2021 in Erbil, Iraq, Mar Awa Royel emphasized the spiritual weight of his role, stating that the patriarchal election is a divine gift. He reiterated the Assyrian Church’s deep roots in Iraq, underscoring the region’s significance to the community. The church moved its seat back to Iraq in 2006 after several decades in the United States, marking a return to its historical homeland.

Royel’s academic path included studying at the University of St. Mary of the Lake’s Pontifical Faculty of Theology. Father Leo Lefebure, a former dean at the institution, noted that Royel was one of at least three Assyrian Church clerics to attend the university. He earned a baccalaureate in sacred theology in 1999, the same year he was ordained a priest. Royel later pursued advanced studies at the Pontifical Oriental Institute in Rome, earning a licentiate and a doctorate.

The Assyrian Church’s engagement with Catholic institutions is part of a long-standing ecumenical relationship. Pope John Paul II’s 1994 Common Christological Declaration with Mar Dinkha IV, the then-Catholicos Patriarch of the Assyrian Church, resolved a theological dispute and strengthened ties between the churches. Mar Dinkha IV had previously studied at the Angelicum in Rome, setting a precedent for Assyrian Church leaders to seek education in Catholic seminaries.

Father Leo Lefebure noted that the Assyrian Church’s presence at the University of St. Mary of the Lake helped broaden ecumenical understanding. The institution’s role in educating Assyrian Church leaders reflects a shared commitment to dialogue and mutual learning. This collaboration aligns with the broader Christian call to unity and reconciliation, as seen in Micah 6:8, which emphasizes justice, mercy, and humble service.