پەرلەمانی کوردستان
2021-04-12T18:12:18.000000Z
Baghdad, Iraq, April 12, 2021
In a message to Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani, His Holiness Pope Francis expresses his gratitude for the warm reception His Holiness received during his apostolic visit to the Kurdistan Region and appreciates the culture of coexistence and mutual respect among the religions and communities of the Kurdistan Region.
President Nechirvan Barzani received Mr. Mitja Leskovar, the Vatican Ambassador to Iraq, at his residence in Baghdad on Monday.
During the meeting, the Vatican Ambassador expressed his happiness for the success of His Holiness the Pope's visit to Iraq and the Kurdistan Region and offered his appreciation for the good preparations and management of the apostolic journey.
For his part, President Nechirvan Barzani described the visit as significant and emphasized that everyone in Iraq should benefit from His Holiness’ journey and its important message of peace, harmony and tolerance.
The two sides stressed the importance of consolidating the spirit and culture of tolerance, coexistence and mutual respect, as President Nechirvan Barzani reiterated that this is an ancient and deeply rooted culture of the people of Kurdistan, and that the Kurdistan Region will remain, as it always has been, a safe haven for all religions and communities.
At the meeting, the Ambassador of the Vatican delivered the following letter from His Holiness Pope Francis to President Nechirvan Barzani:
Your Excellency the President,
Mr. Nechirvan Barzani,
The Honorable President of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq
A brotherly greeting…
I am pleased to send to Your Excellency my brotherly greetings with the best wishes for you and your beloved people. I hope that you and all your companions are in complete health, wellness, and blessings.
I would like to express to Your Excellency, to all the authorities with you, and to all the people of Iraq, especially the beloved Kurdish people, my gratitude for the warm welcome and generous hospitality which you received my companions and me. And please convey my greetings to His Excellency Mr. Masrour Barzani, Prime Minister of the Iraqi Kurdistan. I thank you for attending in person the Divine Liturgy at the Franso Hariri Stadium in Erbil, which demonstrates the spirit of tolerance, harmony, brotherhood and humanity in you.
During the days that I spent among you, I realized that the religious, cultural and ethnic diversities that characterize Iraqi society is a valuable support for you and for the world. It is expected now that Iraq proves to everyone, especially in the Middle East, that it is capable, despite the differences, to cooperate in harmony in order to build civic life, to consolidate bonds of brotherhood and solidarity in the service of goodness and peace, and to nurture hope for a better future.
Mr. President, I would like to express my sincere thanks for all that you have done and are still doing in order to bring about peace, and for all your efforts for all religions and components of society. Generations thank you for your noble works in your services for the common good.
I ask Almighty God to support you in your responsibilities, to guide you on the path of wisdom, justice and truth, and to grant you lasting health, wellness, progress and prosperity.
Vatican City, March 15, 2021
Pope Francis
In a message to Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani, His Holiness Pope Francis expresses his gratitude for the warm reception His Holiness received during his apostolic visit to the Kurdistan Region and appreciates the culture of coexistence and mutual respect among the religions and communities of the Kurdistan Region.
President Nechirvan Barzani received Mr. Mitja Leskovar, the Vatican Ambassador to Iraq, at his residence in Baghdad on Monday.
During the meeting, the Vatican Ambassador expressed his happiness for the success of His Holiness the Pope's visit to Iraq and the Kurdistan Region and offered his appreciation for the good preparations and management of the apostolic journey.
For his part, President Nechirvan Barzani described the visit as significant and emphasized that everyone in Iraq should benefit from His Holiness’ journey and its important message of peace, harmony and tolerance.
The two sides stressed the importance of consolidating the spirit and culture of tolerance, coexistence and mutual respect, as President Nechirvan Barzani reiterated that this is an ancient and deeply rooted culture of the people of Kurdistan, and that the Kurdistan Region will remain, as it always has been, a safe haven for all religions and communities.
At the meeting, the Ambassador of the Vatican delivered the following letter from His Holiness Pope Francis to President Nechirvan Barzani:
Your Excellency the President,
Mr. Nechirvan Barzani,
The Honorable President of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq
A brotherly greeting…
I am pleased to send to Your Excellency my brotherly greetings with the best wishes for you and your beloved people. I hope that you and all your companions are in complete health, wellness, and blessings.
I would like to express to Your Excellency, to all the authorities with you, and to all the people of Iraq, especially the beloved Kurdish people, my gratitude for the warm welcome and generous hospitality which you received my companions and me. And please convey my greetings to His Excellency Mr. Masrour Barzani, Prime Minister of the Iraqi Kurdistan. I thank you for attending in person the Divine Liturgy at the Franso Hariri Stadium in Erbil, which demonstrates the spirit of tolerance, harmony, brotherhood and humanity in you.
During the days that I spent among you, I realized that the religious, cultural and ethnic diversities that characterize Iraqi society is a valuable support for you and for the world. It is expected now that Iraq proves to everyone, especially in the Middle East, that it is capable, despite the differences, to cooperate in harmony in order to build civic life, to consolidate bonds of brotherhood and solidarity in the service of goodness and peace, and to nurture hope for a better future.
Mr. President, I would like to express my sincere thanks for all that you have done and are still doing in order to bring about peace, and for all your efforts for all religions and components of society. Generations thank you for your noble works in your services for the common good.
I ask Almighty God to support you in your responsibilities, to guide you on the path of wisdom, justice and truth, and to grant you lasting health, wellness, progress and prosperity.
Vatican City, March 15, 2021
Pope Francis
