Vatican media highlight significance of Azerbaijan-Holy See memorandum on interreligious dialogue

The recent signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Azerbaijan’s State Committee on Work with Religious Institutions and the Holy See’s Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue has garnered significant attention in Vatican and Italian media, underscoring its importance in fostering interfaith cooperation.

Vatican News— the Holy See’s authoritative news platform—has praised the memorandum as a pivotal advancement in strengthening interreligious understanding and collaboration, Caliber.Az reports via local media.

The publication emphasized that this agreement builds upon the robust foundation laid by the 2011 bilateral accord between Azerbaijan and the Holy See concerning the legal status of the Catholic Church in Azerbaijan, describing it as “an indicator of respect and honour for religious minorities” within the country.

Vatican News further highlighted that the initiatives envisaged under the memorandum are expected to play a critical role in promoting interreligious harmony and celebrating cultural diversity, thereby enhancing peaceful coexistence in Azerbaijan’s pluralistic society.

The memorandum has also attracted coverage from various international media outlets, including Gazzetta Diplomatica, Agenzia Nova, Iglesia Noticias, Eda Radio, Kath Press, CNA, Exaudi, Kmetro0, Osservatore Romano, Agenparl, Telegraf, and Turkic news portals. These platforms collectively underscore the document’s significance as a milestone in interfaith dialogue and a model of constructive cooperation between secular states and religious institutions.

By Vafa Guliyeva