ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Pope Francis has sent a note of gratitude to Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) during a meeting on Tuesday with Cardinal Leonardo Sandri in Erbil, according to the official KRG website.

The report said Sandri brought the Vatican’s letter of thanks from the Pope which praised the KRG's efforts to support refugees, especially the estimated 120,000 Christians, who have fled to the region to escape the Islamic State, or ISIS. During his time in the region, Sandri toured Christian refugee camps to monitor their condition.

At the meeting, Barzani said he was glad Christians could use Kurdistan as a safe haven, if only for a short time. The prime minister emphasized the KRG’s willingness to support all refugees and mentioned that in Kurdistan different religions and ethnic groups live together peacefully.