Azerbaijani parliament speaker joins farewell ceremony for Pope Francis in Italy

On April 25, a parliamentary delegation from Azerbaijan, led by Speaker of the Azerbaijani parliament Sahiba Gafarova, arrived in Italy to attend the farewell ceremony for Pope Francis.

Upon arrival at Rome’s international airport, the delegation was warmly welcomed by Azerbaijan's Ambassador to the Holy See, Ilgar Mukhtarov, Ambassador to Italy Rashad Aslanov, and official representatives from the Vatican, Caliber.Az reports via local media. 

On April 26, Gafarova will represent Azerbaijan at the memorial ceremony, set to take place at the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore.

Pope Francis, the first Latin American pontiff and one of the most consequential religious figures of the 21st century, has died at the age of 88, the Vatican announced on April 21.

His death ends a historic and often contentious 12-year papacy defined by sweeping reforms, internal tensions, and global outreach.

“Dear brothers and sisters, it is with profound sadness I must announce the death of our Holy Father Francis,” Cardinal Kevin Farrell said in a video statement on Vatican TV. 

The Pope’s passing came just a day after he made a brief public appearance in St. Peter’s Square to mark Easter Sunday—his first since being released from hospital on March 23 following a 38-day stay to treat double pneumonia.

By Naila Huseynova