President Masoud Barzani Receives Papal Order of Pius IX

ERBIL (Kurdistan24) – President Masoud Barzani has received the Order of Pope Pius IX (Pian Order) in recognition of his role in promoting peace, coexistence, and humanitarian values, following a request by Chaldean Catholic Patriarch Cardinal Louis Raphaël I Sako.

According to the Barzani Headquarters, Sako presented the award during a meeting with President Barzani on Thursday, expressing appreciation for his contributions to strengthening coexistence, humanitarianism, peace, and stability in the Kurdistan Region, Iraq, and the wider region.

Sako also praised Barzani for his historic role in protecting the Christian community and other ethnic and religious groups in the Kurdistan Region and Iraq.

The Cardinal said the papal honor was awarded in recognition of Barzani’s significant contributions to promoting peace and humanitarian values.

For his part, President Barzani expressed his gratitude to Pope Leo XIV and Cardinal Sako for the honor, emphasizing that the Kurdistan Region’s rich culture of coexistence, harmony, and peace is a source of historic pride for its people and a legacy passed down through generations.

Barzani stressed the importance of preserving brotherhood and harmony among all communities in the Kurdistan Region.

“People should be judged primarily by their behavior and actions, not by their beliefs or religious affiliation,” Barzani said.

The Order of Pope Pius IX, also known as the Pian Order, is one of the highest papal orders of knighthood awarded by the Holy See.