Construction of Catholic Church of St. John Paul II in Baku planned for spring 2026 Top cleric says

Construction of the Catholic Church of St. John Paul II in Baku is expected to begin in the spring of 2026, according to the Apostolic Prefect of the Catholic Church in Azerbaijan, Bishop Vladimir Fekete.

Speaking to domestic media agency Report, Fekete said the start of the project has been delayed by the process of selecting a construction company, as well as by technical considerations related to the site itself.

“A tender was announced, in which four companies expressed interest in carrying out the project. However, construction has not yet begun because a metro line runs beneath the site. Specialists are currently developing a special technology that will make it possible to minimise metro noise inside the church building. If all issues are resolved, the main construction work could begin next spring,” he said.

The land for the church was allocated by the Baku City Executive Authority under an order issued on May 1, 2024. The decision granted the Catholic Church in the Republic of Azerbaijan the right to use a 0.17-hectare plot located at 722 Abbas Mirza Sharifzade Street in the Yasamal district of the capital.

A formal ceremony marking the allocation of the land for the construction of the Church of St. John Paul II, along with the laying of the foundation stone for the new church, was held in December 2024.

By Tamilla Hasanova