President Aliyev: Azerbaijan-Vatican relations demonstrate how representatives of different cultures, religions can successfully cooperate

By  Trend

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has received credentials of the newly appointed Apostolic Nuncio of the Holy See to Azerbaijan Archbishop Paul Fitzpatrick Russell.

Archbishop Paul Fitzpatrick Russell reviewed a guard of honor.

Paul Fitzpatrick Russell handed his credentials to the Azerbaijani president.

President Aliyev then spoke with the Apostolic Nuncio of the Holy See.

Hailing a very high level of Azerbaijan-Vatican relations, the president said “we are still impressed by Pope Francis's visit to Azerbaijan”.

President Aliyev referred to his meetings with Pope Francis held during the trip, and recalled his own visit to the Vatican. Describing Pope Francis's visit to Azerbaijan as a historic event, the president stressed the significance of the Pope's familiarizing himself with Azerbaijan, communicating with people and meeting with representatives of the religious communities in the country.

President Aliyev extended his gratitude for Pope Francis's receiving Mehriban Aliyeva recently, adding that Mehriban Aliyeva was deeply impressed by the meeting.

The president asked the Apostolic Nuncio to extend his greetings and best regards to the Pope.

Saying that relations between Azerbaijan and the Vatican have good history and covers many areas, President Aliyev underlined that relations in the field of culture are of particular importance.

“This cooperation is a good sign of our bilateral relations and one of the essential elements of the global intercultural and intercivilizational process,” the president said. “We value this cooperation and are confident that these relations will continue strengthening.”

The president expressed his confidence that Archbishop Paul Fitzpatrick Russell's tenure will contribute to the strengthening of the bilateral relations.

Thanking the president for the warm words, Archbishop Paul Fitzpatrick Russell hailed excellent relations between the Vatican and Azerbaijan. Saying he met with Pope Francis several weeks ago, the Apostolic Nuncio said that the Pope recalled his visit to Azerbaijan and noted that they were looking forward to Mehriban Aliyeva's visit.

“Mehriban Aliyeva said that her meeting with Pope Francis took place in a very frank and friendly atmosphere,” President Aliyev said.

The president described this as a good sign of cooperation.

“Azerbaijan-Vatican relations demonstrate to the world how people living in different geographical areas, representatives of different cultures and religions can successfully cooperate and build friendly relations,” the president added.

Archbishop Paul Fitzpatrick Russell said he fully shares President Aliyev's views, noting that Vatican-Azerbaijan relationship is truly exemplary.