The independent InfoVaticana site reports:
Pope Leo XIV has awarded the Grand Cross of the Pontifical Order of Pius IX, the highest active diplomatic distinction of the Vatican, to the ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the Holy See, Mohammad Hossein Mokhtari. The decision, confirmed by a diploma dated May 8 and signed by Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Secretary of State.
Although the award is usually part of the Vatican diplomatic protocol and is typically granted to ambassadors accredited to the Holy See after several years of service, the geopolitical context and the Pope’s recent statements on the conflict with Iran have turned the gesture into a subject of strong debate.
In short, Pope Leo is making a statement here. Is there really any excuse for this? Our magnanimous friend Hugh Hewitt counsels forbearance. Will Pope Leo learn what he needs to learn if others he respects don’t speak up? He seems to be a stubborn kind of fellow. Debate among yourselves.
UPDATE: Sarah Hoyt calls out this post as “nonsense.” She asserts that the “award” was just business as usual: “It’s an automatic medal given to an ambassador who has served x amount of time.” Ms. Hoyt links to this post to call me out.
Pope Leo XIV bestowed the Vatican’s highest diplomatic honor upon the Islamic Republic’s Ambassador, Ayatollah Mohammad Hossein Mokhtari.
The man is part of a regime that slaughtered 42,000 of its own people and imposes the death penalty on Muslims who convert to Christianity. pic.twitter.com/vrsJvUgSos
— Eyal Yakoby (@EYakoby) May 12, 2026
