KRG Prime Minister welcomes Cardinal Sako of the Chaldean Catholic Church

On Sunday, August 6, 2023, Prime Minister Masrour Barzani of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) warmly welcomed Cardinal Louis Raphaël Sako, the Patriarch of the Chaldean Catholic Church in Iraq and Worldwide.

During their discussion, Cardinal Sako conveyed his appreciation for the unwavering support he and the Chaldean Catholic Church have received from Prime Minister Barzani and the KRG. He praised the Kurdistan Region’s spirit of harmony and coexistence among its diverse ethnic and religious groups.

Prime Minister Barzani expressed his concern regarding a recent decree from Iraq’s presidency which nullifies a special 2013 presidential decree that designated Cardinal Sako as the exclusive custodian of the Chaldean Catholic Church’s assets and endowments. Barzani voiced his hope for the revocation of this recent decree.

Furthermore, Prime Minister Barzani reaffirmed to the delegation that the Kurdistan Region remains committed to upholding the rights of all its religious and ethnic communities. He emphasised that the region is, and will continue to be, a sanctuary protecting religious freedom. The Prime Minister also noted that the KRG stands steadfastly with the Christian community, which has unfortunately been subjected to injustices and persecution by certain rogue elements in Iraq.