Azerbaijan, Vatican discuss joint cultural, restoration projects

Anar Alakbarov, Assistant to the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan and Executive Director of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, met with Cardinal Claudio Gugerotti, Prefect of the Dicastery for the Eastern Churches of the Holy See.

The discussions centred on the current relations between Azerbaijan and the Vatican and various joint projects in collaboration with the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, Caliber.Az reports, citing local media.

Cardinal Gugerotti expressed his high regard for the Heydar Aliyev Foundation's projects within the Vatican, extending Pope Francis’s personal gratitude to the Foundation’s President, Mehriban Aliyeva, for her continued support.

The meeting highlighted the Foundation’s restoration efforts in the Vatican Catacombs, close collaboration with the Vatican Museums and Apostolic Library, digitization of archival manuscripts, and study visits of Vatican archaeologists to Azerbaijan to support the preservation of historical and religious monuments. Both parties emphasized the importance of furthering these projects in the future.

Praising these initiatives, Cardinal Gugerotti highlighted the construction of a new Catholic church in Baku, supported by the Azerbaijani government and the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, as a clear example of Azerbaijan’s multicultural policy. He noted that, amidst growing global conflicts on religious grounds, Azerbaijan promotes a multicultural environment where diverse faith communities coexist peacefully and enjoy freedom of worship—substantially contributing to global peace efforts.

Alakbarov affirmed that the Foundation’s President, Mehriban Aliyeva, places particular importance on relations with the Vatican and expressed confidence in the continued growth of this cooperation. He noted that the agreement signed between the Governorate of Vatican City and the Heydar Aliyev Foundation for upcoming restoration work at the Basilica of St. Paul is a testament to the strong partnership between both parties.

In discussing future projects, the Vatican representative proposed organizing Azerbaijan Culture Days in the Vatican, including an exhibition, concert program, and specialist exchanges in various fields.

During the meeting, Cardinal Gugerotti was also informed of preparations for the upcoming 29th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP29) to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, set to be held in Baku from November 11 to 22.

The Cardinal expressed confidence that the Global Summit of Religious Leaders, scheduled to take place before COP29 under the theme “World Religions for a Green Planet,” will foster interreligious relations and contribute to the success of the international conference.

By Khagan Isayev