On Sunday, several Kurdish leaders sent congratulatory messages to Patriarch Mar Paulos III Nona on the occasion of his election as the new Patriarch of the Chaldean Church.

“On the occasion of your election as the new Patriarch of the Chaldean Church in the world, we extend our warmest congratulations to you and wish you success,” Kurdistan Regional Government Prime Minister Masrour Barzani said in a statement.

“The Kurdistan Region takes pride in the esteemed position of our Chaldean brothers and all Christians of Kurdistan, and we reaffirm our unwavering commitment to strengthening the culture of peaceful coexistence among the diverse components of the Kurdistan Region.”

In a separate statement on Sunday, Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani extended his warmest congratulations to Patriarch Nona, wishing him every success in his duties and in serving the Chaldean Church and its faithful.

“His Beatitude is a distinguished religious figure with rich spiritual and humanitarian experience. We hope that his election will mark a positive beginning for strengthening the values of tolerance, peaceful coexistence, and acceptance of others among all components.

“On this occasion, we reaffirm that the Kurdistan Region will remain, as it has always been, a safe haven for all religious and ethnic communities. We will continue our full support for our Christian citizens in protecting their rights, identity, and their deep-rooted history in the Kurdistan Region and Iraq,” he concluded.

On Sunday, Australia-based Bishop Emil Nona, who previously served as the Archbishop in Mosul, was elected Patriarch of the Chaldean Catholic Church, replacing Patriarch Louis Sako.