Vatican Awards Order of Pius IX to Iran's Ambassador

Vatican officials awarded Iran's ambassador to the Holy See, Mohammad Hossein Mokhtari, the Knight of the Grand Cross of the Pontifical Order of Pius IX on May 12, 2026, in a ceremony that included 12 other accredited diplomats. The certificate, dated May 8 and signed by Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the pope's secretary of state, recognizes two years of service, a standard practice for ambassadors to the Vatican.

The Pontifical Order of Pius IX, established in 1847 by Pope Pius IX, ranks as the Holy See's highest active papal knighthood for diplomats and heads of state. It features a dark blue sash with a red border and a silver star. The awards were presented not by Pope Leo XIV but by Archbishop Paolo Rudelli, the papal chief of staff, according to the Vatican press office. Previous U.S. ambassadors have received the same honor.

Iranian state media outlets, including PressTV, Mehr News, and IRNA, highlighted the recognition with photos of Mokhtari alongside Pope Leo XIV, portraying it as commendation for promoting peace, dialogue, and opposition to "warmongering." IRNA reported that ceremony officials praised the Iranian embassy's role in advancing "peaceful coexistence, wisdom,...