Pope Leo XIV calls Azerbaijan, Armenia leaders “sowers of hope”

Pope Leo XIV has praised President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan for their efforts in promoting peace and reconciliation, calling them “sowers of hope in a world that too often builds walls instead of bridges.”

The message was delivered in honour of the laureates of the Zayed Award for Human Fraternity, which this year also recognised Afghan human rights and girls’ education activist Zarqa Yaftali, Caliber.Az reports via local media.

“Our laureates — His Excellency Ilham Aliyev, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, His Excellency Nikol Pashinyan, Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia, and Ms Zarqa Yaftali — have chosen the demanding path of solidarity over the easy path of indifference,” the Pope said. “They have demonstrated that even the most deep-seated divisions can be healed through concrete action. Their work bears witness to the conviction that the light of fraternity can prevail over the darkness of fratricide.”

Pope Leo XIV also expressed his gratitude to His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, for his steadfast support of the initiative, and commended the Zayed Committee for its “vision and moral conviction.”

“Let us continue to work together so that the dynamic of fraternal love may become the common path of all, and that the ‘other’ may no longer be seen as a stranger or a threat, but recognised as a brother or a sister,” he added.

The Pope concluded his message with a blessing for the laureates and for all humanity, emphasising the shared responsibility to promote peace, dialogue, and understanding across borders.