Azerbaijan’s First Vice-President Mehriban Aliyeva Meets Pope Leo XIV

Vatican, The Gulf Observer: During her official visit to the Holy See on October 17, First Vice-President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Mehriban Aliyeva met with Pope Leo XIV to discuss ongoing cooperation and future initiatives between Azerbaijan and the Holy See.

Expressing gratitude for the warm reception, First Vice-President Aliyeva highlighted the significant development of bilateral ties in recent years, noting extensive collaboration between the Heydar Aliyev Foundation and the Holy See in restoration work, scientific research, and cultural exchanges. She added that following the successful completion of several projects, the Foundation had launched new initiatives in line with agreements signed with the Holy See, aiming to further strengthen cooperation.

The discussions also focused on the activities of the Catholic Church in Azerbaijan and preparations for the construction of the second Catholic Church in the country.

Pope Leo XIV commended the long-standing bilateral cooperation and expressed gratitude to First Vice-President Aliyeva for her role in advancing relations, emphasizing that these initiatives had enhanced interreligious and inter-civilizational dialogue, positioning Azerbaijan as a global leader in this domain. He also extended his appreciation to President Ilham Aliyev for allocating land for the new church and praised the Heydar Aliyev Foundation’s contributions.

In conclusion, First Vice-President Mehriban Aliyeva thanked Pope Leo XIV and extended an invitation for him to visit Azerbaijan, further strengthening ties between the two states.