Basile Georges Casmoussa
Encyclopedia
Basile Georges Casmoussa (born 25 October 1938) is the Syrian Catholic Archbishop
Emeritus of the Syrian Catholic Archeparchy of Mosul, Iraq
. His Excellency, Archbishop Emeritus Casmoussa was transferred to the Syriac Catholic Patriarchal Curia. He was, according to Vatican
records, born in Iraq.
The Syriac Catholic Archeparchy of Mosul has 35,000 Syriac Catholics, 36 priests, and 55 religious.
On Tuesday, March 1, 2011, the Holy Father
, His Holiness
, Pope Benedict XVI
, gave his consent to the canonical election (made by the Synod of Bishops of the Patriarchal Syriac Catholic Church) of the Right Reverend Father Bouros Moshe, until now the Protosyncellus
(Vicar General) of the Archeparchy of Mosul, as the new Archbishop-elect of the Archeparchy of Mosul, succeeding Casmoussa.
Casmoussa was ordained as a priest
in June 1962 and worked for three decades as the editor of Christian Source and was active in the International Union of the Catholic Press. He was appointed Archbishop of Mosul in May 1999, taking up the post in December, with a congregation of 35,000. Although many Iraqi Christians have left the country because of attacks following the 2003 invasion of Iraq
, Casmoussa chose to stay.
Despite Pope John Paul II
speaking out against the Iraqi military operations spearheaded by the United States
, 66-year-old Casmoussa was kidnapped, reportedly by gunmen in Mosul, on January 17, 2005. Although there were fears that this marked a new wave of attacks on Christian
s in Iraq, it appeared that the motive was principally for ransom, reportedly US$200,000. The kidnapping was widely condemned.
The Archbishop was freed one day later on January 18 with no ransom being paid.
Archbishop
An archbishop is a bishop of higher rank, but not of higher sacramental order above that of the three orders of deacon, priest , and bishop...
Emeritus of the Syrian Catholic Archeparchy of Mosul, Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
. His Excellency, Archbishop Emeritus Casmoussa was transferred to the Syriac Catholic Patriarchal Curia. He was, according to Vatican
Vatican City
Vatican City , or Vatican City State, in Italian officially Stato della Città del Vaticano , which translates literally as State of the City of the Vatican, is a landlocked sovereign city-state whose territory consists of a walled enclave within the city of Rome, Italy. It has an area of...
records, born in Iraq.
The Syriac Catholic Archeparchy of Mosul has 35,000 Syriac Catholics, 36 priests, and 55 religious.
On Tuesday, March 1, 2011, the Holy Father
Pope
The Pope is the Bishop of Rome, a position that makes him the leader of the worldwide Catholic Church . In the Catholic Church, the Pope is regarded as the successor of Saint Peter, the Apostle...
, His Holiness
His Holiness
His Holiness is the official style or manner of address in reference to the leaders of certain religious groups. In Christianity, specifically the Orthodox Church, the Coptic Orthodox Church, Armenian Orthodox Church, Syriac Orthodox Church, Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church and the Roman Catholic...
, Pope Benedict XVI
Pope Benedict XVI
Benedict XVI is the 265th and current Pope, by virtue of his office of Bishop of Rome, the Sovereign of the Vatican City State and the leader of the Catholic Church as well as the other 22 sui iuris Eastern Catholic Churches in full communion with the Holy See...
, gave his consent to the canonical election (made by the Synod of Bishops of the Patriarchal Syriac Catholic Church) of the Right Reverend Father Bouros Moshe, until now the Protosyncellus
Protosyncellus
A protosyncellus or protosynkellos is the principal deputy of the bishop of an eparchy for the exercise of administrative authority in an Eastern Orthodox or Eastern Catholic church...
(Vicar General) of the Archeparchy of Mosul, as the new Archbishop-elect of the Archeparchy of Mosul, succeeding Casmoussa.
Casmoussa was ordained as a priest
Priest
A priest is a person authorized to perform the sacred rites of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in particular, rites of sacrifice to, and propitiation of, a deity or deities...
in June 1962 and worked for three decades as the editor of Christian Source and was active in the International Union of the Catholic Press. He was appointed Archbishop of Mosul in May 1999, taking up the post in December, with a congregation of 35,000. Although many Iraqi Christians have left the country because of attacks following the 2003 invasion of Iraq
2003 invasion of Iraq
The 2003 invasion of Iraq , was the start of the conflict known as the Iraq War, or Operation Iraqi Freedom, in which a combined force of troops from the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia and Poland invaded Iraq and toppled the regime of Saddam Hussein in 21 days of major combat operations...
, Casmoussa chose to stay.
Despite Pope John Paul II
Pope John Paul II
Blessed Pope John Paul II , born Karol Józef Wojtyła , reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church and Sovereign of Vatican City from 16 October 1978 until his death on 2 April 2005, at of age. His was the second-longest documented pontificate, which lasted ; only Pope Pius IX ...
speaking out against the Iraqi military operations spearheaded by the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, 66-year-old Casmoussa was kidnapped, reportedly by gunmen in Mosul, on January 17, 2005. Although there were fears that this marked a new wave of attacks on Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
s in Iraq, it appeared that the motive was principally for ransom, reportedly US$200,000. The kidnapping was widely condemned.
The Archbishop was freed one day later on January 18 with no ransom being paid.