According to the Foundation, the meeting addressed the current relations between Azerbaijan and the Vatican and projects within the framework of cooperation with the Heydar Aliyev Foundation.
Claudio Gugerotti praised the Heydar Aliyev Foundation’s projects in the Vatican and requested that a special appreciation from Pope Francis for the ongoing support be conveyed to the President of the Foundation, Mehriban Aliyeva.
At the meeting, special mention was made of the Foundation’s restoration of the Vatican catacombs, its close cooperation with the Vatican Museum and the Apostolic Library, the digitization of archival manuscripts, and familiarization trips of Vatican archaeologists to Azerbaijan for the restoration of historical and religious monuments, highlighting the importance of implementing new projects in the future.
Cardinal Gugerotti expressed high regard for these initiatives and emphasized that the construction of a new Catholic church in Baku, supported by the Azerbaijani government and the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, serves as a visible example of the country’s multicultural policy.
The guest noted that in the context of expanding global conflicts on religious grounds, the Azerbaijani government pursues a policy of multiculturalism, where representatives of various faiths coexist peacefully, and religious freedom is ensured, which stands as Azerbaijan’s greatest contribution to peace.
The Executive Director of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, Anar Alakbarov, stated that the President of the Foundation, Mehriban Aliyeva, always attaches special importance to relations with the Vatican and expressed confidence in the further development of this cooperation. It was noted that the cooperation agreement signed between the Government of the Vatican City State and the Heydar Aliyev Foundation concerning upcoming restoration work in St. Paul’s Basilica is a testament to the close cooperation between the parties.
Speaking about future projects, the representative of the Holy See proposed organizing Azerbaijani Culture Days in the Vatican, including an exhibition and concert program, as well as the mutual exchange of specialists in various fields.
During the meeting, Claudio Gugerotti was also informed about preparations for the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, to be held in Baku from November 11 to 22. The guest expressed confidence that the upcoming Global Summit of Religious Leaders ahead of COP29, under the motto “World Religions for a Green Planet,” will contribute to the further development of interreligious relations and the success of the international conference.
