ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq - In a letter to influential Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, Cardinal Louis Sako, the patriarch of the Chaldean Catholic Church in Iraq and worldwide, rejected the claims that he has called for normalization with Israel, describing the allegations as fabricated and driven by groups seeking to stir sectarian tension.

During a Christmas Mass in Baghdad on Wednesday, Sako sparked controversy by calling on the government to make efforts toward “normalization in Iraq and with Iraq.” The Christian leader’s comments were slammed by top officials and political leaders who viewed it as a call for normalizing relations with Israel.

In the message to Sadr, Sako said that he “followed with regret” the interpretations that were made for his Christmas Eve remarks, saying he was “hurt that it was taken out of context.”

“I wish to assure Your Eminence and all the Iraqi people that I never referred to any form of political normalization with the Zionist entity, as I am fully aware of the sensitivity and consequences of such a matter,” read the letter from Sako.

“My intention… was to call for drawing the world's attention to Iraq, the land of prophets and the cradle of civilizations, in order to contribute to revitalizing religious and archaeological tourism, which will benefit our beloved country,” he added.

Hours following Sako’s Christmas Eve speech, Sadr posted a statement on his social media platforms, stating: “Normalization is a crime punishable under Iraqi law. Anyone who incites or calls for it, whoever they may be, is not immune from punishment. The relevant official authorities must fulfill their duty immediately. There is no place for normalization or its legitimization in Iraq.”

In the wake of the controversy, an audio clip began circulating purportedly depicting Sako talking about a recent visit to Israel and the need  for Iraq to normalize relations with Israel.

Speaking to The New Region, Sako said the entire issue was manufactured.

“The normalization statement crisis is fabricated,” he said. “I did not call for political normalization, and I did not sign anything related to normalization with Israel.”

He firmly denied visiting Israel and said the leaked audio was created using artificial intelligence.

“I categorically refused to visit Israel. The circulating leak is fabricated using AI,” Sako said. “At the time, I was with Pope Francis. He went to Israel, but I did not, out of respect for the Palestinian cause.”

Sako said the Christian community remains committed to Iraq’s national unity despite all the hardships the community has went through over the years.

Iraq maintains a hardline stance against Israel. The country’s Law of Criminalizing the Normalization with the Zionist Entity prohibits officials and media personnel from engaging with Israel in any capacity, making it punishable by death.