On Thursday, President Masoud Barzani received Cardinal Louis Raphael Sako, the former Chaldean Patriarch, during which the Cardinal bestowed the Catholic Church’s highest honor upon President Barzani.

During the meeting, Cardinal Sako expressed his appreciation for President Barzani’s role in promoting the values of coexistence and humanitarianism, and in strengthening peace and stability in Kurdistan, Iraq, and the wider region. 

He also thanked President Barzani for his role in protecting the Christian community and other ethnic and religious communities in Kurdistan and Iraq.

Cardinal Sako also announced that, in recognition of President Barzani’s significant role in advancing peace and humanitarian values, he had requested that Pope Leo XIV bestow the Catholic Church’s Pope’s highest honor upon President Barzani.

For his part, President Barzani expressed his thanks and appreciation to the Pope and Cardinal Sako, stressing that it is a great source of pride for the people of Kurdistan that a rich culture of coexistence, harmony, and peace has been passed down as their heritage.

He also emphasized the importance of preserving the values of brotherhood and harmony among Kurdistan’s communities, noting that people should be judged by their behavior and actions, rather than by their beliefs or religious affiliation.

Read More: Chaldean Patriarch Sako Submits His Resignation

Cardinal Sako, who has a very strong relationship with the Kurdish leadership, announced his resignation from the office of Chaldean Patriarch on March 10.

He was replaced by Patriarch Mar Polis III Nona, who thanked the KRG for their support in a meeting with Kurdistan Regional Government Prime Minister Masrour Barzani during a visit to Erbil in June.