Azerbaijan, Holy See discuss bilateral ties, regional issues in Vatican PHOTO

Azerbaijan’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Jeyhun Bayramov, held a meeting with Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Secretary of State of the Holy See, on November 25  as part of his official visit to the Vatican.

The sides discussed the current agenda of Azerbaijan–Holy See relations and exchanged views on regional and international issues of mutual interest. It was underlined that Azerbaijan attaches particular importance to deepening its cooperation with the Holy See, with the increasing number of high-level visits in recent years reflecting this commitment, Caliber.Az reports, citing the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry.

The ministry noted that the visit of Azerbaijan’s First Vice-President, Mehriban Aliyeva, to the Holy See in October gave fresh impetus to bilateral ties built on mutual understanding and shared values. The preservation and restoration projects carried out in the Vatican at her initiative and supported by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation were highlighted as an important bridge for humanitarian cooperation.

In the framework of his official visit to the Vatican, @Bayramov_Jeyhun, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan🇦🇿 met with Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Secretary of State of the Holy See🇻🇦.
 
During the meeting, the sides discussed the current state and future… pic.twitter.com/eBereG9zKD

— MFA Azerbaijan 🇦🇿 (@AzerbaijanMFA) November 25, 2025

Bayramov underscored that the rights and security of all ethnic and religious communities in Azerbaijan are fully safeguarded, pointing to the country’s long-standing traditions of multiculturalism and tolerance. The meeting also stressed the key role of religious values in promoting universal human principles and global solidarity, with both sides noting that interfaith dialogue and joint cultural-humanitarian projects contribute to strengthening friendship and understanding at the bilateral and multilateral levels.

The Azerbaijani minister briefed Cardinal Parolin on the Azerbaijan–Armenia normalisation process, including the agreements reached at the historic Washington Summit, steps taken towards their implementation, and the latest post-conflict developments in the region.

The meeting also covered other issues of mutual interest.

As part of his visit to the Vatican, Bayramov toured St Peter’s Basilica and viewed restoration works implemented with the support of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation. He also visited the Vatican Apostolic Library, where he emphasised the importance of safeguarding ancient manuscripts and historical texts that act as “a universal bridge connecting civilisations across centuries.”

“Azerbaijan, home to a rich tapestry of cultures, values this exchange as a pillar of intercultural dialogue and mutual understanding,” the minister wrote on X.

By Vugar Khalilov