Parliament speaker conveys Azerbaijani president's regards to Pope Leo XIV

Speaker of the Azerbaijani Parliament Sahiba Gafarova conveyed President Ilham Aliyev’s congratulations to Pope Leo XIV during the pontiff’s enthronement ceremony held at St. Peter’s Square in the Vatican on May 18.

Gafarova, who attended the ceremony in the Vatican, met with the newly elected head of the Roman Catholic Church on behalf of President Aliyev, offering his congratulations. She also wished him success in his mission, Caliber.Az reports, citing the Parliament’s Press and Public Relations Department.

The event, attended by numerous heads of state, government officials, parliamentary leaders, clergy, and public figures, marked the formal inauguration of Pope Leo XIV as the 267th Pope of the Catholic Church.

The new papacy will be officially formalised on May 25 with the taking of canonical possession of the Basilica of St. John Lateran, the cathedral of the Bishop of Rome.

By Sabina Mammadli