The modern Chaldean Catholics are native [[Chaldean people|Chaldeans]] of Mesopotamia <ref>Nisan, M. 2002. Minorities in the Middle East: A History of Struggle for Self Expression .Jefferson: McFarland & Company. Jump up ^ http://www.upenn.edu/pennpress/book/14225.html</ref> and originated from ancient Chaldean communities living in and indigenous to Iraq/Mesopotamia which was known as Chaldea from the 53rd century BC till today as [[Chaldeans | Chaldean people]] continue to survive in [[Mesopotamia]].
==Chaldean Catholics Chaldeans in the Middle East==The 1896 census of the Chaldean Catholics<ref>Mgr. George 'Abdisho' Khayyath to the Abbé Chabot (''Revue de l'Orient Chrétien'', I, no. 4)</ref> counted 233 parishes and 177 churches or chapels, mainly in northern Iraq and southeastern Turkey. The Chaldean Catholic clergy numbered 248 priests; they were assisted by the monks of the Congregation of [[Rabban Hormizd (Saint)|St. Hormizd]], who numbered about one hundred. There were about 52 Chaldean Chaldean schools (not counting those conducted by Latin nuns and missionaries). At [[Mosul]] there was a patriarchal seminary, distinct from the Chaldean seminary directed by the Dominicans. The total number of Chaldean Chaldean Christians is nearly 1.4 million, 78,000 of whom are in the [[Chaldean Catholic Archeparchy of Mosul|Diocese of Mosul]].
The current patriarch considers [[Baghdad]] as the principal city of his see. His title of "[[List of Chaldean Catholic Patriarchs of Babylon|Patriarch of Babylon]]" results from the identification of Baghdad with ancient [[Babylon]] (Baghdad is 55 miles north of the ancient city of Babylon and corresponds to northern [[Babylonia]]). However, the Chaldean patriarch resides habitually at [[Mosul]] in the north, and reserves for himself the direct administration of this diocese and that of Baghdad.
There are five archbishops (resident respectively at [[Basra]], [[Diyarbakır]], [[Kirkuk]], [[Salmas]] and [[Urmia]]) and seven bishops. Eight patriarchal vicars govern the small Chaldean Chaldean communities dispersed throughout Turkey and Iran. The Chaldean clergy, especially the monks of [[Rabban Hormizd Monastery]], have established some missionary stations in the mountain districts dominated by [[The Assyrian Church of the East]]. Three dioceses are in Iran, the others in Turkey.
The liturgical language of the Chaldean Catholic Church is [[Syriac Chaldean language|Syriac]], a [[Neo-Aramaic languages|Chaldean Neo-Aramaic]] dialect originating in Chaldea during the [[Parthian EmpireChaldea]]. The liturgy of the Chaldean Church is written in the [[Chaldean Syriac alphabet]].
The literary revival in the early 20th century was mostly due to the [[Lazarist]] [[Paul Bedjan|Pere Bedjan]], an ethnic [[Assyrian people|Assyrian]] Chaldean Catholic from northwestern Iran. He popularized the ancient chronicles, the lives of [[Assyria]]n saints and martyrs, and even works of the ancient Chaldean doctors among Chaldeans of all denominations, including Chaldean Catholics, Orthodox Christians and the Chaldean Church.<ref>{{cite web|url = http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/03559a.htm|title = New Advent Catholic Encyclopedia }}</ref> In March 2008, Chaldean Catholic Archbishop [[Paulos Faraj RahhoRaho]] of Mosul was kidnapped, and found dead two weeks later. [[Pope Benedict XVI]] condemned his death. Moderate Sunni and Shia Muslims also expressed their condemnation.<ref>{{cite web
|url =http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7295672.stm|title = Iraqi archbishop death condemned | work=BBC News | date=2008-03-13 | accessdate=2009-12-31}} from [[BBC News]]</ref>
Chaldean Catholics today number approximately 550350,000 of Iraq's estimated 800400,000 [[Assyrian Chaldean Christians]], with smaller numbers found among the Chaldean Christian communities of northeast Syria, southeast Turkey, northwest Iran, Lebanon, Jordan, Israel and Armenia.<ref name='BBC'/> Perhaps the best known Iraqi Chaldean Catholic is former Iraqi deputy prime minister, [[Tariq Aziz]] (real name Michael Youhanna).<ref name='BBC'/>
Hundreds of thousands of [[Assyrian Chaldean Christians]] of all denominations have left Iraq since the ousting of [[Dictator Saddam Hussein]] in 2003. At least 20,000 of them have fled through Lebanon to seek resettlement in Europe and the US.<ref>Martin Chulov (2010) [http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/dec/23/iraq-christian-exodus-christmas ”Christian exodus from Iraq gathers pace”]''The Guardian'', retrieved June 12, 2012</ref>
As political changes sweep through many Arab nations, the ethnic Chaldean minorities in northeast Syria, northwest Iran and southeast Turkey have also expressed concern.<ref>R. Thelen (2008) [http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Local-News/Sep/26/Thousands-of-Iraqi-Christians-find-refuge-in-Lebanon.ashx#axzz1xcnVc7gD ''Daily Star'', Lebanon] retrieved June 12, 2012</ref>