Chairman of the Caucasus Muslims Office Sheikh-ul-Islam Allahshukur Pashazade meet with the Pope in the Vatican

On January 12, 2022.

The delegation was headed by Melikh Yevdayev, head of the Mountain Jews community of Azerbaijan, Archimandrite Alexei Nikonorov, secretary of the Baku and Azerbaijan Diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church, and Bishop Vladimir Fekete, apostolic prefect of the Roman Catholic Church in Azerbaijan. include.The visit of the leaders of religious denominations of Azerbaijan at the official invitation of the President of the Roman Catholic Church, Pope Francis, opens new opportunities and prospects in the field of interreligious dialogue and cooperation in the context of expanding relations between the Holy See and Azerbaijan. Pope Francis expressed the Vatican's interest in cooperation during a meeting with religious leaders in Azerbaijan during his apostolic visit to Baku in 2016, emphasizing the importance of mutual visits.

The visit of the leaders of religious denominations of Azerbaijan at the official invitation of the President of the Roman Catholic Church, Pope Francis, opens new opportunities and prospects in the field of interreligious dialogue and cooperation in the context of expanding relations between the Holy See and Azerbaijan. Pope Francis expressed the Vatican's interest in cooperation during a meeting with religious leaders in Azerbaijan during his apostolic visit to Baku in 2016, emphasizing the importance of mutual visits.

During the visit, the Azerbaijani delegation met with the head of the Vatican and leader of the world's Catholics - Pope Francis, as well as a number of high-ranking officials of the Holy See, including Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Chairman of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue Cardinal Miguel Ayuso. Meetings with Archbishop Richard Gallaher and others are planned. During the meetings, the sides will discuss in detail the work done to restore the religious and spiritual heritage in the liberated Azerbaijani lands, the reconstruction of mosques, churches and temples, exchange views on the realities of Azerbaijan and the multicultural lifestyle.

The visit, which will last until January 17, will serve to further strengthen the existing high-level relations between the Holy See and the Republic of Azerbaijan in the religious and spiritual spheres, on the platform of interreligious dialogue and cooperation.