Vatican: During her official visit to the Holy See, First Vice-President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Mehriban Aliyeva met with Pope Leo XIV. Expressing her gratitude for the reception, she emphasized the significant development of bilateral ties between the Holy See and Azerbaijan in recent years.
According to Azerbaijan State News Agency, Mehriban Aliyeva highlighted the extensive collaboration between the Heydar Aliyev Foundation and the Holy See on restoration work, scientific research, and cultural exchanges. She noted that following the successful completion of several projects, the foundation has launched new projects in line with agreements signed with the Holy See. Aliyeva also expressed the foundation’s intent to expand cooperation by introducing new initiatives.
The meeting further discussed the activities of the Catholic Church of the Holy See in Azerbaijan and preparations for constructing a second Catholic Church. Pope Leo XIV expressed his gratitude to Mehriban Aliyeva, acknowledging that the bilateral relations have significantly developed due to her initiatives. He emphasized that this collaboration has enhanced interreligious and inter-civilizational dialogue, establishing Azerbaijan as a global leader in this field.
Pope Leo XIV also conveyed his deep gratitude to President Ilham Aliyev for allocating land for the new Catholic Church and thanked the Heydar Aliyev Foundation for its accomplishments. In response, Mehriban Aliyeva invited Pope Leo XIV to visit Azerbaijan, further strengthening the ties between the two entities.