FM Discusses Bilateral Relations and Regional Challenges with Vatican Secretary for Relations with States and International Organizations

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Fuad Hussein, met on Thursday, 15 October 2026, with the Secretary for Relations with States and International Organizations of the Vatican City State Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, as part of efforts to strengthen bilateral relations and discuss a number of issues of mutual interest.

The Minister expressed his thanks and appreciation for the meeting, wished His Holiness the Pope a speedy recovery, and conveyed his wishes for his good health and well-being.

The two sides discussed bilateral relations between the Republic of Iraq and the Vatican City State. Mr Fuad Hussein expressed his appreciation for the Vatican’s interest in Iraq, commending its decision to appoint one of its prominent diplomats as Ambassador to Baghdad, which reflects the importance both sides attach to their relations and their commitment to developing them.

The Minister reviewed the social, political and humanitarian impact of Pope Francis’s visit to Iraq and its contribution to promoting interfaith dialogue and consolidating the values of tolerance and peaceful coexistence, noting that the Iraqi Government had designated the anniversary of the visit as a national day for tolerance and coexistence. He also stressed the importance of encouraging Christian visits to the historic city of Ur and other religious and cultural heritage sites in Iraq. In this regard, the Minister invited Archbishop Gallagher and a Vatican delegation to visit Ur and explore its historical and spiritual significance.

The meeting also addressed the situation of Christians in Iraq and their established place as an integral component of Iraqi society, as well as their role in enriching the country’s cultural and civilisational diversity. In this context, the Minister affirmed that Iraq’s political system reflects the pluralistic nature of society and is founded on the representation of its various components and respect for religious, ethnic and cultural diversity.

For his part, Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher affirmed the Vatican’s support for the political process in Iraq and its interest in the country’s stability and in promoting coexistence among its various components. He also raised a number of questions concerning relations between the Federal Government and the Kurdistan Regional Government, on which the two sides exchanged views.

The two sides also discussed regional developments, the repercussions of the ongoing wars and conflicts in the region, and their impact on Iraq and neighbouring countries. Mr Fuad Hussein affirmed that Iraq rejects war and supports peaceful solutions to conflicts, stressing the need to rely on dialogue and negotiations to resolve disputes in a manner that safeguards security and stability and prevents the conflict from spreading further across the region.