EU Liaison Chief Congratulates President Barzani on Vatican Medal
The EU Liaison Office chief in Kurdistan congratulated President Barzani on receiving the Vatican's Pope Pius IX Medal during a farewell meeting in Erbil.
ERBIL (Kurdistan24) - The head of the European Union Liaison Office in the Kurdistan Region praised President Masoud Barzani's role in protecting the rights of religious and ethnic communities and deepening a culture of coexistence and harmony among all components of Kurdistan and Iraq, during a farewell meeting in Erbil on Saturday.
According to a statement released by Barzani's headquarters, President Barzani received Radu Butum, head of the European Union Liaison Office in the Kurdistan Region, on Saturday.
Butum, who was visiting to bid farewell to President Barzani as his term in the Kurdistan Region concludes, congratulated the president on receiving the Vatican's highest honor, the Pope Pius IX Medal. During the meeting, Butum highlighted Barzani's historic role in preserving the rights of Kurdistan and Iraq's diverse religious and ethnic communities and strengthening a shared culture of coexistence and tolerance across the region.
President Barzani thanked the Holy See for the honor, stressing: "We take pride in the rich culture of coexistence and harmony that endures between our different religions and nationalities," and affirmed that this culture would remain protected and would be further deepened.
President Barzani also commended Butum's efforts and dedication throughout his tenure in the Kurdistan Region and wished him continued success in his future endeavors.
The two also discussed the risks and opportunities facing Iraq and the region in the period ahead, along with developments in the Kurdistan Region's political process.
The Pope Pius IX Medal is the Vatican's highest and most historic spiritual and diplomatic honor, traditionally presented to heads of state and monarchs. Established under Pope Pius IX on June 17, 1847, the honor is divided into three ranks: the Grand Collar, reserved for heads of state and monarchs; the Grand Cross, presented to ambassadors and senior diplomats; and the rank of Commander and Knight, awarded to individuals recognized for notable service to humanity.
The Vatican described the award to President Barzani 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. Past recipients of the medal include King Charles III and Queen Camilla of Britain, King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden, and Italian President Sergio Mattarella, among a small number of world leaders honored over the medal's history. In 2026, President Barzani joined this list.
Observers have noted that the Vatican's decision carries diplomatic and humanitarian significance, presenting Kurdistan as a model for peaceful coexistence among ethnic and religious communities in the Middle East, while recognizing Barzani's role in sheltering displaced Christians and other communities during periods of hardship, including terrorist attacks in the region.