Kurdistan Regional Government
Representation in Italy
On December 12, Cardinal Coccopalmerio received an official visit to the Vatican from Minister Falah Mustafa, Head of the Department of Foreign Affairs of the Kurdistan Regional Government, and his delegation, accompanied by Dr. Rezan Kader, High Representative of the Kurdistan Regional Government in Italy.
The Cardinal explained to the Minister that the department he heads is responsible for Church law and its enforcement.
Minister Falah conveyed greetings from President Barzani, the Prime Minister, and all the Kurdish people to the Cardinal, thanking her for welcoming them to the Holy See.
The Minister informed the Cardinal that tolerance, peace, and coexistence between different religions and ethnic groups reign in the Kurdistan Region. As evidence of this, following the outbreak of religious persecution of fellow Christians in the rest of Iraq and the Middle East, President Barzani has made a concrete commitment to protecting the Christian community by providing shelter and basic necessities to thousands of families. This community is an integral and vital part of the Kurdistan Region, but it must also achieve respect for its rights in other parts of the Middle East.
However, the emergency situation the region is facing, including as a result of the Syrian displacement, requires greater support from the international community. For this reason, Minister Falah called on the Church, humanitarian organizations, and states to intervene in their support with humanitarian aid of all kinds and to put an end to acts of persecution and intolerance against humanity, prosecuting those responsible.
Minister Falah also invited Cardinal Coccoplamerio to organize more reciprocal visits to strengthen the relationship between the Church and the Kurdistan Region and to send a Vatican delegation there to witness the living conditions of Christian brothers and sisters and their needs, thus making them feel the Church's strong presence.
Cardinal Coccopalmerio expressed the Church's full support and solidarity and conveyed to Minister Falah his thanks to President Barzani, who is working so hard for his fellow Christians and Syrians and for maintaining peace in this sensitive area of the Middle East. However, the Church must do more to unite Christian churches around the world, which is a major challenge for ecumenism.