Vatican City, April 13, 2023

President Nechirvan Barzani had an audience with His Holiness Pope Francis, the head of the Catholic Church, at the Apostolic Palace in Vatican City on Thursday morning.

During his audience, the President expressed his delight over seeing His Holiness in good health, and wished him wellbeing and a long life. The President then presented an overview of the situation in the Kurdistan Region and Iraq, and highlighted the status of the religious and ethnic communities in the country.

The President referred to the importance and impact of Pope Francis’ visit to Iraq and the Kurdistan Region and stressed that the Kurdistan Region as always protects the rights and liberties of all religious and ethnic communities, and will remain a country of peaceful coexistence and tolerance for all.

For his part, His Holiness Pope Francis expressed delight at meeting the President again, and praised the culture of peaceful coexistence and acceptance among religious and ethnic communities in the country, emphasizing that this culture should be deepened in the Kurdistan Region and Iraq. His Holiness called his last journey to Iraq and the Kurdistan Region a happy memory.

At the end of his audience, President Nechirvan Barzani presented Pope Francis with a painting made by a Kurdish artist which illustrated the coexistence among the religious and ethnic communities in the Kurdistan Region.

https://presidency.gov.krd/en/president-nechirvan-barzanis-audience-with-his-holiness-pope-francis/