Syriac Catholic Patriarch accuses Vatican Cardinal of orchestrating removal campaign

Patriarch Ignatius Youssef III Younan of the Syriac Catholic Church has accused Cardinal Claudio Gugerotti, prefect of the Dicastery for the Eastern Churches, of orchestrating a campaign to remove him from office. Younan alleges that Gugerotti encouraged bishops to turn against him and contributed to the creation of a new papal law, ‘Mutua concordia’, which is now being used in the proceedings against him.

Younan is the first Eastern Catholic leader to face dismissal under these new norms, which allow a synod to request a patriarch's resignation for grave causes. The proceedings against Younan, which began in early September, cite a lack of ‘fraternal harmony’ and failure to regularly convene the governing synod. Younan denies these allegations, stating he has visited dioceses globally and maintains widespread support.

The dispute also involves Bishop Flaviano Rami Al-Kabalan. Younan claims the push for his removal stems from a long-standing disagreement regarding Al-Kabalan’s residence in Rome versus his episcopal ministry in the Middle East. The Syriac Patriarchate has released statements calling the accusations ‘lies and slanders’ and has reserved the right to take legal action.