SULAIMANI (ESTA) — Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani received a letter from Pope Francis who expressed his gratitude for the warm reception he received during his apostolic visit to the Kurdistan Region, according to the Kurdish presidency.
Barzani met with Vatican ambassador to Iraq Mitja Lescovar at his residence in Baghdad on Monday, the Kurdistan Region presidency said in a statement on Monday.
Lescovar 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,” the statement read.
He also handed over a letter from the pope to Barzani during the meeting, according to the statement.
“I am pleased to send to Your Excellency my brotherly greetings with the best wishes for you and your beloved people,” Pope’s message to Barzani read.
“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 with which you received my companions and me,” the letter said.
Pope Francis paid a four-day apostolic visit to Iraq and the Kurdistan Region last month. He visited Baghdad, Najaf, the ancient city of Ur, Erbil, Mosul and Qaraqosh during his historic visit.
“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,” the pope said.
“It is expected now that Iraq proves for 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,” he added.
