After the murder of the Catholicos-Patriarch Mar Shimun XXI Benyamin, along with 150 of his followers by Simko (Ismail Agha Shikak), a Kurdish agha, Mar Shimun XXII Paulos was elected on 29 April 1918. He was ordained in St Mary's Church at Urmia by the Metropolitan Mar Eskhaq Khnanisho, Bishop Mar Eliya Abuna of Alqosh, Bishop Mar Yosip Khnanisho and Bishop Mar Zaya Sargis of Jilu. Mar Shimun XXII Paulos' successor was Mar Eshai Shimun XXIII.