Vatican awards the Iraqi ambassador to the Holy See the Order of Pius IX

Baghdad-INA 

The spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ahmed Al-Sahhaf, announced today, Friday, that the Vatican has awarded the Ambassador of the Republic of Iraq to the Holy See, Rahman Farhan Al-Amiri, the Order of Pius IX.

Al-Sahhaf said in a statement received by the Iraqi News Agency (INA): "The Ambassador of the Republic of Iraq to the Holy See was awarded with the Order of Pius IX, by the Deputy Secretary of State of the Vatican City (Deputy Prime Minister), Bishop Edgar Parra, in a ceremony held at the Vatican State Secretariat headquarters. On 30/3/2023, with a group of ambassadors whose accreditation period to the Holy See exceeded two years.

He added, "The Order of Pius IX, which was conferred for the first time in 1847, is one of the oldest papal equestrian decorations, and is awarded to resident ambassadors accredited to the Holy See after two years of assuming their position, and to heads of state and government who visit the Holy See and officers of the Swiss Guard," indicating, that he It has been awarded in recent years to all the presidents of the Italian Republic, including the current President of the Republic, Sergio Mattarella.