In the meeting both sides shed light on KRG's role in improving the living conditions of Christian IDPs and their situation as a whole, reported the website of former president Barzani.
Cardinal Parolin also met with Masrour Barzani, Kurdistan Region’s security chief who has been tipped to be the next prime minister.
In their meeting, Barzani “stressed the culture of coexistence and forgiveness of the Kurdistani nation and said he considers Christians an indigenous people of the region and accommodating them is a humane duty of his nation,” according to a statement from Barzani’s office.
He called on all parties to “create appropriate conditions so that Christians do not leave their country.”
Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin meeting with KRG Security Chancellor Masrour Barzani. Photo: KRSC
Iraq’s Christian population has dwindled from 1.5 million in the last census to an estimated 250,000 to 300,000 today after years of conflict and persecution.
In his meeting with Masrour and a later discussion with Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani, Cardinal Parolin said the Vatican is committed to supporting the Kurdistan Region, which is hosting many of Iraq’s displaced Christians.
“Christians are an important and main part of Kurdistani society and they have historic roots in the country,” PM Barzan told the Vatican envoy.
“The KRG has done serious work and will continue to further establish the principles of coexistence, acceptance, and mutual respect. The KRG will pay particular attention to these principles in the education sector and has taken practical steps in this direction,” he added.
The envoy of the Catholic Church has spent Christmas in Iraq.
He celebrated Christmas mass at the Cathedral of Saint Joseph in Baghdad’s Karrada neighborhood with the head of the Chaldean Church Patriarch Louis Raphael I Sako.
Before beginning his trip, the auxiliary bishop of Baghdad Shlemon Warduni told Vatican News that Cardinal Parolin’s visit is encouraging to Iraq’s suffering Christian community.
“Almost a million Christians have left Iraq – a nation that has seen the presence of Christians for over two thousand years,” he said.
Updated at 8:25 pm
