Leyla Aliyeva, Vatican Delegation Discuss Expanding Cultural and Academic Cooperation
Baku, The Gulf Observer: Leyla Aliyeva, Vice-President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, met with a delegation from the Holy See led by Archbishop Monsignor Giovanni Cesare Pagazzi, Archivist of the Vatican Apostolic Archive and Librarian of the Vatican Library, to discuss ongoing cooperation and future collaborative initiatives between the two sides.
The meeting focused on reviewing the long-standing partnership between the Heydar Aliyev Foundation and the Vatican Apostolic Library and Apostolic Archive, as well as identifying new avenues for cooperation. Relations between the institutions have been actively maintained since 2012, particularly in the fields of cultural preservation, restoration, and digitization of historical manuscripts.
During the discussions, both sides assessed prospects for strengthening existing ties, outlined upcoming projects, and examined joint efforts aimed at the digital preservation of collections housed in the Vatican Apostolic Archive.
Archbishop Pagazzi recalled that First Vice-President of Azerbaijan and President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation Mehriban Aliyeva visited the Vatican Apostolic Library and Apostolic Archive during her official trip to the Holy See last year. He highlighted the extensive cooperation that has developed over the years between Azerbaijan and the Holy See, as well as between the Foundation and various Vatican institutions.
The Archbishop noted that during his current visit to Azerbaijan, he held a series of high-level meetings with representatives of local institutions. The talks focused on identifying, studying, translating, and digitizing rare manuscripts related to Azerbaijan that are preserved in the Vatican’s historic collections.
Under the existing cooperation agreement between the Heydar Aliyev Foundation and the Vatican Apostolic Library and Apostolic Archive, significant restoration and digitization work has been carried out on manuscripts connected to Azerbaijan’s historical and cultural heritage, as well as the heritage of Turkic-speaking peoples.
The meeting also highlighted future academic cooperation under a Memorandum of Understanding signed last year between the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences (ANAS), and the Vatican Apostolic Library and Apostolic Archive. In 2026, a delegation of Azerbaijani scholars is expected to conduct extensive research at the Vatican on historical materials related to Azerbaijan and the South Caucasus, including diplomatic correspondence exchanged between the Aq Qoyunlu and Safavid rulers and the Popes of Rome.
Participants additionally discussed opportunities for Azerbaijani students to pursue studies in library science and archival studies at Vatican institutions in the future.
As a gesture of goodwill, a traditional Azerbaijani carpet was presented to the visiting delegation. In return, the guests gifted a copy of a historical document from the Vatican Archive dating back to the early 20th century that is related to Azerbaijan’s history.
Following the meeting, Leyla Aliyeva and Archbishop Pagazzi toured exhibitions at the Heydar Aliyev Center. During a visit to the Classic Cars exhibition, Anar Alakbarov, Director of the Heydar Aliyev Center and President of the Azerbaijan Automobile Federation, briefed the delegation on rare automobiles representing different historical periods.
The delegation also viewed the “My Seas, My Oceans” exhibition, organized on the initiative of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation and the IDEA Public Union (International Dialogue for Environmental Action). The exhibition features works by contemporary artists addressing global environmental challenges, including marine pollution, overfishing, biodiversity loss, and the sustainable protection of water resources, emphasizing water’s vital role as a source of life, renewal, and creativity.
