Vatican News expands global reach with Azerbaijani language addition

Starting today, Vatican News has expanded its language offerings to include Azerbaijani, bringing the total number of languages to 56.

This new development aims to enhance inter-religious dialogue and broaden the Vatican’s outreach, Caliber.Az reports.

The initiative, made possible through collaboration with the Apostolic Prefecture of Azerbaijan, reflects the Vatican's commitment to engaging with a diverse global audience.

Bishop Vladimir Fekete, supporting the initiative, noted that Azerbaijani is spoken by over 30 million people worldwide, not just in Azerbaijan.

The move is expected to strengthen communication and foster deeper connections between the Holy See and Azerbaijani-speaking communities around the world.

The Catholic community in Azerbaijan is relatively small but historically significant. It is primarily made up of ethnic Azeris, as well as expatriates, including members of the Polish and Italian communities. The Catholic presence in Azerbaijan is centered in Baku, where the Catholic Church is represented by the Apostolic Prefecture of Azerbaijan. The community in the country is part of the larger Catholic Church in the Caucasus region and is under the jurisdiction of the Holy See.

The majority of Catholics in Azerbaijan are Roman Catholics, though the community also includes Eastern Rite Catholics, particularly those of the Armenian Catholic Church. Despite being a minority in the predominantly Muslim country, the Catholic community is active in religious, social, and cultural activities, contributing to interfaith dialogue and cooperation in Azerbaijan.

The community has a church in Baku, known as the Cathedral of the Blessed Virgin Mary, which serves as the central place of worship and community gathering.

By Tamilla Hasanova