What Is the Pope Pius IX Medal? Vatican Honor Explained
What is the Pope Pius IX Medal? A look at the Vatican's highest historic honor, now awarded to President Masoud Barzani.
ERBIL (Kurdistan24) - The Pope Pius IX Medal is the official decoration considered the highest and most historic spiritual and diplomatic honor granted by the Vatican, presented to leading heads of state and monarchs around the world. The Vatican has now awarded the medal to President Barzani, in what it described as an official and deeply humanitarian message recognizing his role in protecting religious coexistence, sheltering hundreds of thousands of refugees, and helping secure stability across the Middle East.
The official medal traces its origins to June 17, 1847, when it was established under Pope Pius IX. It has since become the Vatican's foremost decoration, actively presented by the reigning Pope to prominent leaders and figures around the world.
The honor is structured across three principal ranks. The Grand Collar class is reserved exclusively for heads of state and monarchs. The Grand Cross rank is presented to ambassadors and senior diplomatic figures, while the rank of Commander and Knight is awarded to individuals who have provided clear and notable service to humanity.
Alongside this top-tier medal, the Vatican maintains other honors, including the Medal of St. Gregory the Great, presented for service to society, and the Medal of St. Sylvester, reserved for civilian figures who have made notable contributions in science and the humanities.
The standards for receiving the Pope Pius IX Medal are described as exceptionally strict and rare. It is granted only to national leaders and rulers who have played an effective role in preserving stability, or to defenders of coexistence who protect the rights of religious and ethnic minorities. The honor is also extended to international diplomats who strengthen relations with the Holy See.
Over the medal's history, only a small number of world monarchs and leaders have received it. Past recipients include King Charles III and Queen Camilla of Britain; King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia of Sweden; former King Juan Carlos I of Spain; former King Albert and Queen Paola of Belgium; former Queen Margrethe of Denmark; Italian President Sergio Mattarella; Cameroonian President Paul Biya; former Ethiopian Emperor Haile Selassie; former Belgian Prime Minister Herman Van Rompuy; and former Ecuadorian President Gabriel García Moreno. In 2026, President Barzani joined this list.
The Vatican's decision to honor President Barzani carries several political, diplomatic and humanitarian dimensions. Observers noted it sends a clear message from the international community regarding the political standing of the Kurdistan Region, while presenting Kurdistan as a model for peaceful coexistence among ethnic and religious communities in the Middle East.
The honor further reflects the Vatican's recognition of President Barzani's historic role in protecting and sheltering hundreds of thousands of Christian displaced people, refugees and other communities during periods of hardship, including during terrorist attacks in the region.