Pope welcomes signing of peace declaration by Azerbaijan, Armenia

During his traditional Sunday sermon, Pope Leo XIV warmly welcomed the signing of the peace declaration between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

According to Caliber.Az, the pontiff’s speech was broadcast live on the Vatican News YouTube channel.

“Let us continue to pray for the end of wars. […] I congratulate Armenia and Azerbaijan on signing the joint declaration of peace. I hope this will help establish lasting peace in the Caucasus,” the Pope said. He also reminded listeners of the responsibility to make decisions that take into account the interests of the peoples.

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan signed the joint declaration following a trilateral meeting in Washington with US President Donald Trump. The declaration contains seven points emphasizing Baku’s and Yerevan’s commitment to peace.

The document also notes that the parties have initialed the agreed text of the peace agreement aimed at restoring relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia and will strive for its final ratification.

On August 8, U.S. President Donald Trump hosted Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan at the White House for a historic trilateral summit, marking the first such meeting between the leaders of Armenia, Azerbaijan, and the U.S. since the Soviet Union’s collapse. The summit resulted in the signing of a joint declaration and the initialing of a draft peace agreement titled “Agreement on Establishment of Peace and Inter-State Relations between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Republic of Armenia” by the foreign ministers of both countries, witnessed by Trump, Aliyev, and Pashinyan.

A major component was the agreement to establish a transit route, dubbed the “Trump Route,” through Armenia’s Syunik province, connecting mainland Azerbaijan to Nakhchivan. This route, often referred to as the Zangezur Corridor, will facilitate intra-state and international transportation while respecting the sovereignty of both nations.

By Khagan Isayev