Pope receives in audience President of Azerbaijan

Vatican News

Pope Francis, Saturday morning, received in audience in the Vatican President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan, who subsequently met Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, and  Secretary for Relations with States, Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher.

A brief statement by the Holy See Press office said that “during the cordial discussions at the Secretariat of State, both sides expressed satisfaction over the development of the existing bilateral relations”.  “In particular, attention was given to collaboration in the cultural sphere and to appreciation for the activities of the Catholic Church in the country.”  The Vatican said they also touched upon “some regional and international themes, with special reference to the importance of intercultural and interreligious dialogue that supports peaceful coexistence among the various religious and ethnic groups”.