Patriarch Mar Paulus III Nona Receives Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani

  • June 15, 2026
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His Beatitude Patriarch Mar Paulus III Nona received His Excellency Mr. Nechirvan Barzani, President of the Kurdistan Region, on the morning of Monday, June 15, 2026, at the Chaldean Archdiocesan Residence in Ankawa, Erbil, as part of His Beatitude’s pastoral visit to the Region.

The meeting took place in a warm and fraternal atmosphere in the presence of His Grace Archbishop Bashar Matti Warda, Chaldean Archbishop of Erbil. During their discussions, the two sides exchanged views on the situation of Christians in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region, emphasizing the importance of promoting the values of citizenship, peaceful coexistence, and cooperation among the various components of society, in order to strengthen stability and serve the common good.

His Beatitude welcomed President Barzani and expressed his appreciation for the support that the Kurdistan Region continues to provide to Christians and to the various religious and ethnic communities. He also stressed the importance of continuing joint efforts to foster a culture of dialogue, mutual respect, and the building of a future characterized by peace and human dignity.

For his part, President Nechirvan Barzani congratulated His Beatitude on his election as Patriarch of the Chaldean Church and wished him success and blessings in his pastoral ministry and ecclesial service. He praised the spiritual and national role of the Chaldean Church in promoting the values of love, peace, and coexistence, as well as its service to humanity. He further reaffirmed the Kurdistan Region’s continued commitment to supporting religious and cultural diversity, which remains one of the greatest strengths of society in both Kurdistan and Iraq.

At the conclusion of the meeting, both sides expressed their hope that Iraq and the Kurdistan Region would continue to enjoy security, stability, and prosperity, and that all efforts would be united in building a society founded on mutual respect, cooperation, and service to all its people.