Stories of hope
Iraqi Monsignor Presents Aramaic Bible to Pope
A Chaldean-language Bible was presented to Pope Leo XIV, symbolizing efforts to preserve Christianity and the Aramaic language in Iraq through widespread Bible distribution.
June 26, 2025 | by McKenzie Hood
(Vatican City - June 26, 2026) In June 2025, Monsignor Ghazwan Yousif Baho traveled from Iraq to the Vatican to present a freshly printed Bible in the Chaldean language to Pope Leo XIV. The Bible, gifted on behalf of Iraq’s Aramaic-speaking Christian community, represents a major milestone in a multi-year project spearheaded by Shai Fund in coordination with local partners to print and distribute 12,200 Western Aramaic, Chaldean, and Assyrian Bibles to Christian families across Iraq.
The Bible distribution project is part of a broader initiative to preserve Christianity and the Aramaic language in its historic heartland and to provide Christian communities in regions including Basra, Baghdad, Kirkuk, Suleymaniye, the Nineveh Plains, and the Kurdistan Regional Government with accessible, accurate Scripture in their spoken language. These regions are home to some of the oldest Christian populations in the world, communities that have faced centuries of hardship and persecution.
From Ancient Text to Modern Readability
For many Aramaic-speaking Christians in Iraq, receiving a Bible in their native dialect was once unimaginable. Traditionally, church services used Old Aramaic (Kthobonoyo), a formal, written dialect difficult for most laypeople to understand. By contrast, the new Bibles, based on a corrected computerized version of the Western Aramaic New Testament, are written in a modern, readable form, enabling families to engage with Scripture independently, often for the first time.
“The ability to read the Bible in their own language is more than spiritual—it’s a matter of cultural survival,” said Charmaine Hedding, President of Shai Fund. “Christian families in Iraq have endured unimaginable suffering and loss. For this important text to end up in the hands of Pope Leo XIV is a strong symbol of the Iraqi church’s resilience in the face of persecution.”
In appreciation of Shai Fund’s dedication and partnership, Monsignor Baho had the Western Aramaic Bible given to the Pope inscribed with Ms. Hedding’s name.
Preserving Faith and Language in the Heartland
Iraq’s Christian population has declined dramatically in the last two decades, from 1.5 million in 2003 to fewer than 200,000 today. The rise of ISIS in 2014 led to mass displacement, the destruction of churches and sacred texts, and widespread persecution. Even in the post-ISIS era, Christian communities continue to face insecurity, political marginalization, and threats from armed groups.
In this context, the Bible project has an enduring impact: it restores dignity, strengthens cultural identity, and supports a future for Christianity in its historic birthplace.
Shai Fund works globally to strengthen religious freedom and support minority faith groups like the Iraqi Christians. This vital project will continue with plans to print and distribute an additional 2,800 Western Aramaic Bibles to meet ongoing demand.
For media inquiries, contact McKenzie Hood, Advocacy and Partnerships Manager, at [email protected].
