Vatican: During her official visit to the Holy See, First Vice-President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Mehriban Aliyeva met with Pope Leo XIV.
According to Azeri-Press news agency, First Vice-President Mehriban Aliyeva expressed her gratitude for the reception by Pope Leo XIV and emphasized the significant development in relations and bilateral ties between the Holy See and Azerbaijan in recent years. She highlighted the extensive collaboration between the Heydar Aliyev Foundation and the Holy See, which encompasses restoration work, scientific research, and cultural exchanges.
First Vice-President Aliyeva mentioned that following the successful completion of several projects, the Heydar Aliyev Foundation has launched other initiatives in accordance with agreements signed with the Holy See. She affirmed the Foundation’s commitment to expanding its cooperation with the Holy See by introducing new initiatives.
The meeting also addressed the activities of the Catholic Church of the Holy See in Azerbaijan and preparations for the construction of the Second Catholic Church. Pope Leo XIV expressed his gratitude to First Vice-President Mehriban Aliyeva, acknowledging that relations had developed significantly due to initiatives she introduced a few years ago.
Pope Leo XIV emphasized the collaboration’s role in enhancing interreligious and inter-civilizational dialogue, positioning Azerbaijan as a global leader in this field. He reiterated the Holy See’s interest in continuing these projects with Azerbaijan and conveyed his deep gratitude to President Ilham Aliyev for allocating land for the Second Catholic Church’s construction. Pope Leo XIV also thanked the Heydar Aliyev Foundation for its contributions.
First Vice-President Mehriban Aliyeva expressed her gratitude to Pope Leo XIV and extended an invitation for him to visit Azerbaijan.