Did the Vatican really give a special award to the Iranian ambassador?
What is the award? And what does it say about the pope's stance on political issues?
The Vatican press office has clarified that an award given to the Iranian ambassador to the Holy See is not an exclusive honor, but a customary award routinely given to ambassadors after two years of service.
The clarification came after several Iranian outlets reported May 12 that Pope Leo XIV had granted the Vatican’s highest diplomatic honor to the Ir…