Azerbaijani Speaker joins world leaders at Pope Leo XIV’s Inauguration Mass

On May 18, a parliamentary delegation led by the Azerbaijani Parliament Speaker, Sahiba Gafarova, is participating in the Inauguration Mass of Pope Leo XIV.

Upon arrival in the Vatican for a working visit on May 17, Gafarova was welcomed at Rome's international airport by Vatican officials, Azerbaijani Ambassador to the Holy See Ilgar Muktarov, and Azerbaijan's Ambassador to Italy Rashad Aslanov, Caliber.Az reports.

The ceremony is currently underway and is attended by a multitude of international figures, including U.S. Vice President JD Vance, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, and Britain's Prince Edward. The presence of such dignitaries underscored the global significance of the event and the Pope's anticipated role in international diplomacy and peace efforts.

Given the large attendance, Rome implemented extensive security measures, deploying over 5,000 personnel to ensure the safety of the participants and attendees. These measures were comparable to those enacted during Pope Francis's funeral, reflecting the event's magnitude.

In his inaugural address, Pope Leo XIV emphasised themes of peace, dialogue, and the importance of addressing contemporary global challenges, including conflicts in regions like Ukraine and Gaza. He also highlighted the need for the Church to engage with issues such as artificial intelligence and its impact on humanity.

By Khagan Isayev