President Masoud Barzani received Monsignor Archbishop Mirosław Wacławski, the new Vatican ambassador to Iraq on Saturday.

During the meeting, the new Vatican ambassador expressed his happiness at visiting the Kurdistan Region and conveyed the Vatican’s gratitude and appreciation to President Barzani, as well as to the people and government of the Kurdistan Region, for the support and relief they provided to displaced and affected people from various other parts of Iraq during times of hardship and crisis. He also praised the Region for opening its doors to receive and assist them, especially Christians.

The ambassador further expressed his admiration for the culture of coexistence and acceptance of others prevailing in the Kurdistan Region, where all communities live in peace and security. He also commended the Kurdistan Regional Government’s support for the establishment of the Catholic University, Ankawa Hospital, and several schools for Christians, enabling them to study in their mother tongue.

In another part of the meeting, the Vatican ambassador referred to President Masoud Barzani’s recent visit to the Vatican, as well as the recent visit of His Holiness Pope Francis, the former Pope of the Vatican, to the Kurdistan Region.

For his part, President Barzani congratulated the new Vatican ambassador on assuming his duties and wished him success in his new mission, affirming his support for the success of his work. President Barzani stressed that coexistence and acceptance of others in the Kurdistan Region have become a source of pride for the people of Kurdistan, emphasizing that every effort will be made to preserve and strengthen this culture.

President Barzani also highlighted the sacrifices made by the Kurdistan Peshmerga forces during the war against ISIS terrorists in defense of all religious and ethnic communities without discrimination, noting that many Peshmerga members were martyred or wounded in order to protect the land and people of the region alike.

He also expressed his gratitude to His Holiness the Pope and the Vatican government for their continuous support for the Kurdistan Region, appreciating the warm reception he received during his recent visit to the Vatican, and expressing hope that His Holiness the Pope will visit Iraq and the Kurdistan Region in the future.