A rare papal honor recognizes President Masoud Barzani’s decades-long commitment to peace, coexistence, and the protection of Christians and other minorities.

In August this year, President Masoud Barzani was honored with the Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Pope Pius IX for his longstanding promotion of peace and the protection of human values in the Kurdistan Region and beyond. 

The prestigious award was granted during a visit to Erbil by Cardinal Louis Raphael Sako, Patriarch Emeritus of the Chaldean Catholic Church, who praised the Kurdish leader for his support for the Christian minority and other ethnic and religious groups. 

President Barzani is one of the few non-Catholic leaders to have been recognized for his efforts to protect Christian minorities.

A Rare Papal Distinction

Established by Pope Pius IX in 1847, the Order of Pius IX is the highest papal order still actively conferred by the Holy See. The rank of Grand Cross knight is exceedingly rare, generally reserved for distinguished Catholics — often from historic European nobility — who have provided direct, high-profile service to the Pope. The ranks of commander and commander with star are also carefully awarded, particularly to diplomats and other laypeople for extraordinary merit. Although a Catholic honor, the order may also be bestowed on non-Catholics and non-Christians, making Barzani’s recognition as a Muslim Kurdish leader particularly notable.

The Order of Pope Pius IX is divided into five classes, each reflecting a different level of distinction:

Knight with the Collar: The highest and most prestigious class, reserved for heads of state. Recipients wear a gold collar featuring the papal tiara and two doves, along with a large star on the breast.

Knight/Dame Grand Cross: Recipients wear a wide dark-blue sash edged in red, running from the left shoulder to the right side, where the order’s insignia is suspended. A large, diamond-studded star is also worn on the breast. This class is generally awarded to ambassadors accredited to the Holy See.

Knight/Dame Commander with Star: Recipients wear the order’s badge at the neck, accompanied by a smaller star on the breast.

Knight/Dame Commander: The decoration is worn at the neck.

Knight/Dame: The insignia is worn on the left side of the breast.

A Recognition of Coexistence

During the meeting with Cardinal Sako, President Barzani thanked the Pope for the recognition and noted that the people of Kurdistan are proud of their “rich heritage of upholding a culture of coexistence, harmony, and peace.”

“Actions are the true standard for evaluating a person, not belief and religious affiliation,” the Kurdish leader said during the meeting. He also stressed the need to preserve the values of “brotherhood and solidarity among the components of Kurdistan.”

Throughout his decades of political leadership, Barzani has worked to protect and promote a culture of peaceful coexistence in the Kurdistan Region.

During the war against ISIS, the Kurdistan Region became a refuge for large numbers of displaced Christians and Yezidis, while Peshmerga forces subsequently participated in operations to retake areas seized by ISIS.

The Kurdistan Region is one of the very few places in the Middle East to have a predominantly Christian district — Ankawa — governed by officials from the Christian community.