2026-08-21T15:27:45+00:00
Shafaq News- Erbil
Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI) President Nechirvan Barzani on Friday welcomed a Vatican honor for Kurdish leader Masoud Barzani, viewing it as recognition of his role in promoting peace and protecting the rights of religious communities across Iraq.
Barzani also characterized the distinction as a celebration of the KRI’s culture of tolerance and mutual acceptance, as well as the humanitarian values embraced by its people.
“The Kurdistan Region of Iraq will always remain a peaceful homeland for all its communities.”
به بۆنەی وەرگرتنی نيشانى باڵای قەداسەتی پاپای ڤاتیکانەوه، گەرمترین پیرۆزبایی ئاراستەی جەنابی سەرۆک مەسعوود بارزانی دەکەم. بەخشینی ئەم نيشانه باڵایە بە جەنابيان، پێزانینە بۆ ڕۆڵى دياريان لە پاراستنى مافهکانی پێکهاتەكان لە کوردستان و عێراق.ئەم ڕێزلێنانە مایەی شانازيی هەرێمی…
— Nechirvan Barzani (@IKRPresident) August 21, 2026
The Vatican presented Masoud Barzani, leader of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), with the Order of Pope Pius IX, or Pian Order, on Thursday. The high-ranking papal honor recognizes his role in protecting Christian and other ethnic and religious communities in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region.
Read more: Iraqi Kurdistan’s pluralism: A living model of coexistence
Source: Shafaq News
