Azerbaijan, Vatican join forces to preserve, digitalise historical documents PHOTO

The Holy See and Azerbaijan have signed a memorandum to promote cooperation with regard to the digitalisation of literature and materials related to the history of Azerbaijan that are stored in the Church's renowned archives.

The document was signed between the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, the National Academy of Sciences of Azerbaijan together with the Vatican Apostolic Library and the Vatican Apostolic Archive, Caliber.Az reports, citing Azertag.

The memorandum was signed by Anar Alakbarov, Assistant to the President of Azerbaijan and Executive Director of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, and Archbishop Giovanni Cesare Pagazzi, Head of the Apostolic Library and Apostolic Archive, who represented the Vatican.

The agreement aims to foster cooperation and knowledge exchange in science and research, as well as to support the study, preservation, and digitisation of Vatican archival materials connected to the history of Azerbaijan.

It is worth noting that the Vatican Apostolic Library, founded in 1475, is considered one of the world’s oldest and most prestigious scientific centres.

The Holy See and Azerbaijan have demonstrated a shared desire to develop and strengthen their relations. A multitude of agreements have been signed over the years, including the 2011 Bilateral Agreement that regulates the juridical status of the Catholic Church in Azerbaijan.

Two out of the last three Heads of the Catholic Church have visited Azerbaijan, demonstrating the strength of the bilateral ties, with the Apostolic Journeys to Azerbaijan by Pope Saint John Paul II in 2002 and by Pope Francis in October 2016.

By Nazrin Sadigova