Pope to visit Baku as tourist

He opts to stay at Irshad Hotel

Rome's Catholic Pope John Paul II is expected to visit Baku as a tourist for the first time in the pedigree of his foreign trips. In Baku, the pontiff will stay at an ordinary hotel, Irshad. The pope is not expected to give services in the Azeri capital, where Catholic Christians number some100.

Initial agreement has been reached to invite a top ranking Vatican delegation to Baku. Vatican ambassador to Azerbaijan, Georgia and Armenia Archbishop Clausio Gujerotti toured the Irshad hotel and approved of the conditions, especially security.

The Irshad is translated as the religious way. Roman sources say the hotel belongs to chairman of the Azerbaijan State Committee on Religious Entities Rafig Aliyev. In addition, it is not a hotel, but a guest house of the Center of Islamic Studies. The Roman Pope and his delegation of 20, who are expected in Baku under a contract signed on May 21-24 will stay at the hotel alone.

The Pope will have his own bodyguards, who will work in cooperation with the security of the Irshad. The pontiff is expected to bring his cook.

Roman sources commend the hotel with a view of the Caspian with suites costing $120 a day. But, Irshad says it might cost for the Roman guests even cheaper, $80.

There is nothing to pose threat for the life of the pontiff in Azerbaijan, R.Aliyev indicated. In an interview with Azernews, he said the visit could only be welcomed. "This is not s religious, but political visit, as he will be in Baku as the head of Vatican. Moreover, he has never done somebody harm and there is no worry over his life", R. Aliyev noted.