Ishtartv.com - rudaw.net

May 18, 2026

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani on Monday reassured Pope Leo XIV that Christians would continue to play a central role in shaping the future of the Kurdistan Region, as he met the pontiff at the Vatican amid ongoing regional instability and uncertainty across the Middle East.

During the meeting, President Barzani emphasized that Christians and other religious and ethnic communities are “an essential part of the history, culture, and national identity of the Kurdistan Region,” according to a statement from the Kurdistan Region Presidency. 

In a statement posted on X after the meeting, the Kurdish President said he further reaffirmed that Christians and all religious communities “continue to shape the future” of the Kurdistan Region.

“I reiterated to His Holiness that protecting their rights, dignity, and peaceful presence in their ancestral homeland will always remain our duty,” he added.

The high-profile meeting with Pope Leo XIV comes as Iraq and the wider region continue to grapple with political tensions, security concerns, and humanitarian challenges, making themes such as coexistence, tolerance, and interfaith dialogue particularly significant.

According to the Kurdistan Region Presidency, President Barzani expressed the “sincere gratitude” of both Iraq and the Kurdistan Region for the Vatican’s spiritual and historical role in promoting dialogue and coexistence around the world. He also recalled with appreciation the historic 2021 visit of the late Pope Francis to Iraq and the Kurdistan Region, and formally invited Pope Leo to visit the Region.

In response, Pope Leo praised the culture of tolerance, coexistence, and mutual acceptance in the Kurdistan Region and Iraq, the presidency statement said. The pontiff also commended the Kurdistan Region’s role in sheltering and protecting vulnerable populations, including Christians, during periods of conflict and instability.

The Kurdistan Region gained widespread international recognition during the war with the Islamic State (ISIS), which erupted in Iraq in 2014, after hosting hundreds of thousands of displaced Christians, Yazidis, and other minorities who fled the violence in Mosul and the Nineveh Plains.

The Region’s churches, schools, and displacement camps in Erbil and other areas of the Kurdistan Region became refuge centers for many families escaping persecution.

The Vatican has repeatedly praised the Kurdistan Region’s efforts to promote religious tolerance and coexistence, particularly during and after the war against ISIS.

Pope Leo succeeds Pope Francis, who made the first-ever papal visit to Iraq in 2021. During that landmark trip, Pope Francis visited Erbil, where he thanked the people of the Kurdistan Region for hosting displaced Christians and refugees and praised Kurdish leaders for protecting vulnerable communities.

Relations between the Vatican and Kurdish officials have remained warm over the years, particularly regarding issues related to minority rights, humanitarian assistance, regional stability, and interfaith dialogue.

President Barzani presented the Pope with three gifts: a painting depicting a cross in Bedyal village in the Barzan area of Erbil province, a painting symbolizing coexistence in the Kurdistan Region, and a mat featuring Notre Dame Cathedral in Germany.

Later on Monday, the Kurdish President also met with Pietro Parolin, the Vatican’s Secretary of State. A separate statement from the Kurdistan Region Presidency said the two sides discussed strengthening relations between the Holy See, the Kurdistan Region and Iraq, in addition to the political and security situation in the country and the condition of religious and ethnic communities.

President Barzani's meeting with Pietro Parolin, the Vatican’s Secretary of State. Photo: KRP

Both sides emphasized the importance of continued dialogue and promoting the values of coexistence and tolerance in the region.

President Barzani conveyed the gratitude of the Region and Iraq for the Vatican’s continued support for peace and stability, while Cardinal Parolin praised Kurdistan as “a successful model of peaceful coexistence among different religions and communities in the region,” according to the Presidency’s statement.

The discussions also touched on broader regional developments and the humanitarian impact of ongoing tensions in the Middle East, with both sides underlining the importance of preserving peace and stability.

President Barzani also met with Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto. 

President Barzani meeting with Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto. Photo: KRP

“The meeting discussed the development of relations between the Kurdistan Region and Iraq with Italy in the military and security fields, as well as joint cooperation to confront terrorist threats,” said the Kurdistan Region Presidency in a statement. 

Crosetto “reaffirmed his country’s continued commitment and support for the peace and stability of Iraq and the Kurdistan Region. In this regard, he stated that Italy would continue providing military and security assistance.”