Pope to visit Azerbaijan in early October

Pope Francis will meet with Azeri President Ilham Aliyev during his official visit to Baku on October 2, Jamilya Mamedova, head of the press office of the Catholic church in Baku, told a press conference on Wednesday.


"During the visit, the pope will meet with the president of Azerbaijan on October 2. He will also meet with Allakhshukyur Pashadze, head of the Spiritual Board of Muslims of the Caucasus, and will hold a mass in the Baku Catholic church," Mamedova said.


The pope will arrive in Azerbaijan from Georgia, where he will pay an apostolic visit on October 1.


Vladimir Fekete, head of the Catholic church in Baku, called the relations between the Vatican and Azerbaijan very positive at a briefing.


He said the pope's visit to Azerbaijan will promote the development of bilateral relations. "The visit by Pope Francis will help elevate the level of relations between the Vatican and Azerbaijan. The pope sees and respects Azerbaijan as a tolerant country," Fekete said.



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