Azerbaijan and the Vatican open restored Catacombs of Commodilla Mehriban Aliyeva’s visit to the Holy See / PHOTO

First Vice-President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Mehriban Aliyeva has paid an official visit to the Holy See – Vatican, where she took part in a series of events underscoring Azerbaijan’s commitment to intercultural dialogue, cultural heritage preservation, and humanitarian cooperation.

Restoration of the Catacombs of Commodilla

On 16 October, Mehriban Aliyeva, accompanied by her family, attended the opening ceremony of the restored Catacombs of Commodilla—a project supported by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation. The ceremony was attended by senior Vatican representatives, including Monsignor Pasquale Iacobone, President of the Pontifical Commission for Sacred Archaeology; Cardinal Gianfranco Ravasi, President emeritus of the Pontifical Council for Culture; and Amedeo Ciaccheri, President of Rome’s VIII Municipality.

Monsignor Iacobone commended the long-standing cooperation between the Commission and the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, noting previous successful restoration projects of the Saint Marcellino and Pietro and Saint Sebastian Catacombs, also made possible through Azerbaijan’s support. He expressed deep gratitude to Mehriban Aliyeva for her continued contribution to the preservation of world cultural heritage.

Cardinal Ravasi highlighted his “sincere and deep bonds of friendship” with Azerbaijan and praised Mehriban Aliyeva’s personal dedication to cultural projects, describing her support as “a new chapter” in Vatican–Azerbaijan cooperation.

In her remarks, Mehriban Aliyeva expressed her honour at visiting the Vatican for the sixth time, stating that Azerbaijan’s centuries-old tradition of peaceful coexistence among religions and cultures underpins its state policy today. “In today’s complex world, the expanding cooperation and friendship between our countries serve as an example,” she said, reaffirming the Heydar Aliyev Foundation’s readiness to continue its partnership with the Holy See.

The Catacombs of Commodilla, dating back to early Christianity, contain invaluable frescoes and relics and are known as the burial site of martyrs Felicissimus and Agapitus. The Foundation’s support prevented the site’s structural collapse and introduced cutting-edge restoration technologies, including nanotechnology and laser cleaning methods.

Meeting with Cardinal James Harvey

During the visit, Mehriban Aliyeva met with Cardinal James Harvey, Archpriest of the Papal Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls, one of the four major papal basilicas of Rome. The sides discussed the successful restoration projects jointly implemented by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation and the Vatican.

Cardinal Harvey expressed gratitude for Azerbaijan’s contribution to preserving sacred monuments and stressed the importance of these projects for millions of visitors. Mehriban Aliyeva noted that the partnership with the Vatican was “sustainable and highly valued,” highlighting the ongoing restoration of the Basilica’s façades under a 2024 agreement signed within the framework of the Vatican’s Jubilee Year.

Visit to the Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls

On October 16, First Vice-President Mehriban Aliyeva, accompanied by Cardinal James Harvey, visited the Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls in Vatican City to review the progress of restoration and construction work carried out with the support of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation.

Priest Don Lodovico Turrisi and architect Marco Ciriachi provided detailed information about the Basilica and the ongoing restoration process.

The Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls is the second largest church in Vatican City after St. Peter’s Basilica and was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1980. Built over the burial site of Saint Paul the Apostle, it is one of the four major papal basilicas of Rome and is regarded as one of the most sacred and historically significant monuments of the Roman Catholic Church. Inside the Basilica, mosaic portraits of all popes from St. Peter to the present day are displayed. Located away from the bustling centre of the Vatican, the Basilica is distinguished by its calm and deeply spiritual atmosphere.

On 11 September 2024, within the framework of the Jubilee Year celebrated by the Holy See every 25 years, a document was signed between the Governorate of Vatican City State and the Heydar Aliyev Foundation to ensure the preservation and restoration of the marble coverings and decorative elements of Saint Paul’s Basilica. The document was signed by former President of the Governorate Cardinal Fernando Vérgez Alzaga and Assistant to the President of Azerbaijan, Executive Director of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation Anar Alakbarov.

Visit to Bambino Gesù Pediatric Hospital

The First Vice-President also visited Bambino Gesù Pediatric Hospital—Europe’s largest children’s medical and research centre under the jurisdiction of the Holy See. Accompanied by the hospital’s President Tiziano Onesti, she toured molecular genetics and clinical diagnostics laboratories and reviewed advanced research facilities.

The visit follows the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding on 10 September between the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, the Azerbaijani Ministry of Health, and Bambino Gesù Hospital. The agreement aims to enhance Azerbaijan’s capacity in molecular genetics, rare disease research, and clinical diagnostics, enabling Azerbaijani specialists to receive advanced training and engage in joint research.

By Vugar Khalilov