By Rudaw
Pope Francis in a letter to the President of the Kurdistan Region hailed Iraq and the Kurdistan Region for valuing “religious, cultural and ethnic diversities.”
“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,” reads the letter addressed to President Nechirvan Barzani.
Barzani met with the Vatican ambassador to Iraq, Mitja Leskovar, on Monday in his third and last day in Baghdad, who delivered the letter from Pope Francis, written on March 15.
“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,” said his Holiness.
Pope Francis also expressed his gratitude for the warm welcome. “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 pope thanked the president for attending the Sunday mass at Franso Hariri Stadium which he said “demonstrates the spirit of tolerance, harmony, brotherhood and humanity in you.”
Barzani also described the visit “as significant and emphasized that everyone in Iraq should benefit from His Holiness’ journey and the important messages the visit was carrying, which were messages of peace, harmony and tolerance.”
The president reiterated that coexistence, tolerance and respect “is an ancient and deeply rooted culture of the people of Kurdistan, and that the Kurdistan Region will remain, as it always has been, a safe haven for all religions and communities.”
Pope Francis landed in Baghdad on March 5 for a three-day historic visit to Iraq and the Kurdistan Region, where he met with senior officials and leaders, held prayers and masses.
As part of the first-ever papal visit to Iraq, Pope Francis met with President Barzani and other senior Kurdish officials on March 7, when he arrived at Erbil's airport. Pope Francis expressed his gratitude to Barzani for the protection of displaced Christians and other minorities during a brief meeting at Erbil international airport.
After visits to Qaraqosh and Mosul later that morning, the pope received a rapturous welcome at the stadium, where he held mass for 10,000 people and extended a "heartfelt welcome to the Kurdish people."
Pope Francis ended the mass with a specific message for Iraq, which he says will always remain in his heart. “Salam, Salam, Salam,” said the Catholic leader, using the Arabic word for peace.