Mesud Barzani receives Vatican IX. Pius Order of Knighthood

Mesud Barzani, President of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), was awarded the IX. Pius Order of Knighthood by the Vatican. The honor was presented in Erbil on August 20, 2026, by Chaldean Catholic Patriarch Louis Rafael Sako.

Patriarch Sako stated that the award was decided by the Pope to recognize Barzani’s efforts in promoting peace, stability, and the protection of religious and ethnic groups, particularly the Christian community, within Iraq and the KRG. Barzani expressed gratitude to the Vatican, emphasizing the importance of coexistence and tolerance among different faiths and identities.

However, the award has drawn criticism from Turkish retired Rear Admiral Cihat Yaycı. Yaycı argued that the ceremony, held amidst political symbols and flags, sends a significant political message. He claimed the Vatican’s move provides international legitimacy to separatist structures and noted a pattern of increasing diplomatic engagement between the Vatican and the KRG leadership.