Holy See–Kurdistan Region relations

Bilateral relations

Holy See–Kurdistan Region relations

Holy See |
Kurdistan Region

Holy See–Kurdistan Region relations are bilateral relations between Holy See and Kurdistan Region.[1] The Holy See has no representation in Kurdistan Region and the latter has no representation in the Holy See.

## High-ranking visits

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Kurdish President Masoud Barzani has met with Pope John Paul II and his two successors Pope Benedict XVI and Pope Francis on official visits to the Vatican City in November 2005, February 2011 and May 2014.[2][3][4] Kurdish Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani also met with Pope Francis in March 2015, discussing the humanitarian crisis in the Kurdish region and Barzani stressed his hope for a papal encouragement for the international society to support Kurdistan Region humanitarianly.[5] At the meeting, Pope Francis praised the atmosphere in Kurdistan.[6] Shortly after, Pope made an unspecified donation for Kurdistan Region to cope with the displaced Christian population.[7]

In the same month, the Pope's personal envoy was sent to Erbil, including Cardinal Fernando Filoni and a delegation from the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples. It was the envoy's second visit to Erbil after a similar visit took place in August 2014.[8] In 2016, the Pope donated 110,000 dollars to the St. Joseph's Clinic in Erbil, which is home to thousands of internally displaced persons,[9] and sent a financial donation to displaced Iraqi Christians in Erbil through the Aid to the Church in Need.[10]

In March 2016, a Papal delegation led by Archbishop Alberto Ortega Martín and met with President Barzani, expressing the Holy See's gratefulness for Kurdistan Region's treatment of displaced Christians.[11] In January 2018, Nechirvan Barzani met with Pope Francis in Rome, where they addressed the current humanitarian situation in Kurdistan Region,[12] while Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin visited Kurdistan in December that year.[13] In February 2020, Pope Francis received Kurdish President Masrour Barzani at the Vatican for bilateral discussions.[14]

Pope Francis visited Kurdistan Region in March 2021.[15]

## References

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1. ^ While Kurdistan Region refers to the autonomous Kurdish region in Northern Iraq, Iraqi Kurdistan is a geographical term referring to the Kurdish area of Iraq
2. ^ "President". Kurdistan Region Presidency. Archived from the original on 9 August 2017. Retrieved 9 August 2017.
3. ^ "Pope Benedict commends President Barzani for promoting religious tolerance". Kurdistan Regional Government. 24 February 2011. Archived from the original on 10 August 2017. Retrieved 9 August 2017.
4. ^ "President Barzani Meets Pope Francis at the Vatican". Kurdistan Region Presidency. 31 May 2014. Archived from the original on 27 November 2018. Retrieved 9 August 2017.
5. ^ "Iraqi Kurdistan prime minister asks Pope Francis to encourage international community". Rome Reports. 2 March 2015. Retrieved 9 August 2017.
6. ^ "KRG Prime Minister Barzani Meets Pope Francis". The Kurdish Project. 6 March 2015. Retrieved 9 August 2017.
7. ^ "Pope makes donation to help displaced Christians in Iraq and Nigeria". Catholic Herald. 30 March 2015. Retrieved 9 August 2017.
8. ^ "A sweet sign of hope: Pope's envoy returns to Iraq with Easter cake". Catholic News Agency. 29 March 2015. Retrieved 9 August 2017.
9. ^ "Pope donates $110,000 to clinic for Iraqi refugees in Erbil". Crux. 19 June 2016. Archived from the original on 20 June 2016. Retrieved 9 August 2017.
10. ^ "Pope Francis sends vestments, financial aid to Iraqi Christians". Catholic News Agency. 31 May 2016. Retrieved 9 August 2017.
11. ^ "President Barzani Meets with Papal Delegation". Department of Foreign Relations - Kurdistan Regional Government. 4 March 2016. Retrieved 9 August 2017.[permanent dead link‍]
12. ^ "Updated: Barzani, Pope discuss Vatican role in easing relations with Baghdad". Retrieved 29 March 2018.
13. ^ "Vatican Secretary of State discusses situation of Christians in Iraq, Kurdistan with senior Kurdish officials". Kurdistan24. 27 December 2018. Retrieved 16 February 2019.
14. ^ "Prime Minister Barzani meets Pope Francis at Vatican during Italy trip". NRTV. Retrieved 19 February 2020.
15. ^ "Pope Francis will travel to Iraq in 2021". CNA. 7 December 2020. Retrieved 5 February 2021.

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