Vatican calls for further assistance to the Kurdistan Region
Cardinal Leonardo conveyed the greetings and gratitude of His Holiness Pope Francis to Prime Minister Barzani, to the people and the government of Kurdistan Region for having sheltered and assisted all those refugees and internally displaced people in general and the Christians in particular, who fled the violent repression of the Islamic State terrorist organisation, ISIS, and sought safety in the Kurdistan Region.
Cardinal Leonardo shed light on his visit to the Christian refugee camps and churches in Kurdistan Region, saying that he has closely observed the conditions of the refugees. He said that they live in good conditions, despite the burden that this large number of refugees and displaced people has created for the Kurdistan Region. He thanked the people and the institutions of the Kurdistan Region for their assistance.
He said that amid his visit to Christian refugee camps, he has encouraged the refugees to be resilient and stay in their country. Meantime, he called on the international community, international organisations and United Nation agencies to further assist the IDPs and Kurdistan Region.
Prime Minister Barzani expressed his gratitude for the letter of His Holiness Pop Francis, and discussed his recent visit to Vatican and his meeting with His Holiness Pope Francis.
Prime Minister Barzani pointed out that the Kurdistan Regional Government, KRG, will continue providing assistance to refugees and IDPs, despite the fact that its resources are limited.
He highlighted the peaceful coexistence among all the religious and ethnic communities in the Kurdistan Region.
The two sides also discussed the current situation in Iraq in general, and in Mosul in particular, as well as the social and economic situations in the Region.
Prime Minister Barzani expressed the gratitude of Kurdistan Region President and the people of Kurdistan to his Holiness Pope Francis, expressing his hope that Pope Francis will visit Iraq and the Kurdistan Region in future.
