WATCH | PM Barzani and Pope Francis Meet in Vatican

Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani on Wednesday met with Pope Francis in Vatican and discussed the current situation for religious freedom in Iraq and the wider region.

During the meeting, PM Barzani briefed the Pope on the peaceful environment provided for different faiths in Kurdistan Region where hundreds of thousands of people from religious minority groups have sought refuge to enjoy practicing their faiths.

About the meeting, PM Barzani wrote on Twitter: “We discussed many regional and global concerns, including our shared belief in dialogue between different faiths as the way to promote tolerance and reduce the threat of extremism.”

He also officially invited Pope Francis to visit Kurdistan Region.

The Kurdish leader arrived in Rome on Tuesday where he met with Italian prime minister and Vatican Secretary of State.

Pope Francis praised the leadership of Kurdistan for turning the region into a safe haven for refugees and IDPs regardless of their religion or ethnicity. He also commended Kurdistan Region’s battle against extremism and intolerance.

PM Barzani reiterated Kurdistan’s commitment to protect all religious groups, not only Christians of Kurdistan, but also the Christian IDPs who have fled their homes in other parts of Iraq.