Christian Activists Protest to Vatican: Awarding Diplomatic Medal to Ambassador Deepens Iranians’ Wounds
The organization “Christian Activists for a Free Iran” in a sharp letter addressed to Pope Leo XIV and Vatican officials described the awarding of the Holy See’s highest diplomatic medal to the ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran as a “painful and concerning” action; an action that, according to the group, has sparked widespread reaction among Iranians who have faced years of repression, executions, and religious persecution. The letter, signed by dozens of priests, church leaders, and Christian activists, warns that such symbols, even if carried out within the framework of diplomatic protocol, may be used by the Iranian government as a propaganda tool and convey the wrong message to victims of human rights violations.
These reactions intensified after the Vatican awarded the “Grand Cross of the Pius IX Medal” to Mohammad Hossein Mokhtari, the ambassador of the Islamic Republic to the Holy See; a medal that is referred to as the highest honor of the Vatican’s diplomatic service. Media outlets close to the Iranian government described this action as a sign of Vatican’s support for “peace and dialogue,” but Vatican diplomatic officials and even the U.S. Embassy to the Holy See later explained that this medal is typically awarded to ambassadors who have served more than two years in the Vatican and is not considered a sign of political or moral endorsement.
Nevertheless, the organization “Christian Activists for a Free Iran” emphasized in their letter that the issue is not merely an administrative formality. The letter’s authors, referring to the suppression of protests, executions of protesters, pressure on political prisoners, and systematic persecution of Christians, wrote: “For a people who have endured years of discrimination, imprisonment, and deprivation, the awarding of the Cross of the Pius Order is not just a ceremonial procedure.” They warned that such images may wound the hearts of many Iranians and inadvertently serve the propaganda of the Islamic Republic.
In another section of the letter, the signatories, referring to the symbolic position of the cross in Christian tradition, wrote: “The cross reminds Christians who stood alongside the condemned, the weak, and the voiceless.” Therefore, in their view, any official honor bearing the name of the cross should be accompanied by sensitivity to the tears of the oppressed, not the glory of oppressors. The group has also asked the Vatican to publicly affirm that such honors do not mean overlooking violations of religious freedom, executions of protesters, and pressure on religious minorities in Iran.
Meanwhile, media outlets and international observers have presented different positions on this Vatican action. Some analysts believe that the Vatican’s traditional policy is based on maintaining communication channels with all governments, even those accused of human rights violations; an approach that has been followed previously in complex international cases. However, critics argue that the continuation of such formalities in the current circumstances, especially following multiple reports of the suppression of protesters and pressure on religious minorities in Iran, could damage the moral credibility of the Church and create the impression that the suffering of victims is not a priority.
