Paulos Faraj Rahho (also known as Paul Faraj Rahho and Paulos Faradsch Raho; Arabic: بولس فرج رحو, Būlus Farağ Raḥū; Syriac: ܦܘܠܘܣ ܦ̮ܪܔ ܪܚܘ, Paulōs Farağ Raḥō; 20 November 1942 – February or March 2008) was a Chaldean Catholic prelate who served as the Archeparch of Mosul[1] in the northern part of Iraq from 2001 until his death in 2008 at the hands of terrorists.
[1] Between 1974 and 1976, Rahho completed his religious studies with a Licentiate in Theology from the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas, Angelicum in Rome.
[2] Rahho expressed disquiet at the moves to incorporate Sharia law more fundamentally into the Iraqi constitution, and continued throughout his life to lead worship in difficult situations.
[1] During his 2007 trip to Rome, with the patriarch of Babylon Emmanuel III Delly who was then appointed cardinal, Rahho confided that he had been threatened by gunmen in his native town.
[1] Late on February 29, 2008, according to a report given by the Catholic News Service, Rahho was kidnapped from his car in the Al-Nur district of the city; his bodyguards and driver were killed.
[13] An official of the morgue in Mosul said the archbishop, who had health problems, including high blood pressure and diabetes, might have died of natural causes.
[13] Nineveh Deputy Governor Khasro Goran stated that when relatives and authorities went to the location specified by the kidnappers and found the body, it had "gunshot wounds".
Archbishop Paulos Faraj Rahho is believed to be the highest-ranking Chaldean Catholic clergyman to have been killed in the Iraq war.