Pope blesses Azerbaijan

He advocates for peace in a Baku mass

The Catholic church leader John Paul II visited Azerbaijan, a country with predominantly Muslim populations, for the first time in its history last week.

Catholic community members number some a hundred in the Caucasus nation, where Muslims, Christians and Jews co-exist. The visit on the invitation of the Azeri President turned the world’s eyes to Azerbaijan, which was in consistent coverage of international media.

The pontiff was accompanied by a broad delegation, also including 170 journalists.

The pope’s visit has inspired the Azeri government, which took the trip as a reward for its home and foreign policy.

John Paul the second was given a solemn reception at the Bina Airport, as President Aliyev, his government and most of the ambassadors accredited in Baku were present to bid welcome.

President Aliyev called the Vatican head ‘the world citizen’ in a meeting at the airport, saying he has risen to fame as the friend of people and nations, irrespective of their religious, racial and national belonging.

Baku mass

The Vatican Pope conducted a two-hour mass at the Hand Games Palace of Baku Thursday, as some five thousand Bakuvians joined the meeting with the pontiff. Also attending the gathering were top government officials, including Premier Artur Rasizadeh.

The Pope called on the Azeri people to believe in the Almighty, pray and aspire for progress.

He thanked the Azeri president for a site to construct a new Catholic church in Baku.

Catholic communities began taking shape in Azerbaijan in the 19th century, when the Catholic Church of Saint Mary was founded. But, along with many other cultural and historic monuments, it was destroyed in the Stalin repression.

The visit

In his two-day trip to Azerbaijan, which started with paying tribute to the Cemetery of Martyrs, the pontiff held a 25-minute private meeting with President Aliyev, members of religious confessions and Azeri refugees, whom he rendered financial assistance.

Caucasus Muslim leader Allahshukur Pashazadeh presented the holy Koran to the Catholic leader in the meeting.

Addressing Azeri celebrities, the Pope wished peace, progress and flourishing for the nation.

He was using a special vehicle designed by Italian engineer Perilli in the Baku visit.

The pontiff toured Baku’s only Catholic church before he left for Bulgaria on Thursday.

Appreciation

Aliyev highly appreciated the pontiff’s activities.

"As the head of Vatican and Catholic Pope, you have courageously overstepped the boundaries of centuries-long traditions”, the President noted.

“Distinguished with its religious tolerance, the Azeri people understands and highly appreciates your humanism. Your visits to countries where Islam prevails serve peace and mutual confidence between the world's two major faiths”.

The Pope voiced his respect for the country’s predominant religion, Islam.

"Islam has played a growing role and it is now the belief of the overwhelming majority of Azeris.

Azerbaijan is the gate between the west and east. Therefore, it is of strategic and symbolic importance”.

The pontiff called on religious heads to denounce all forms of violence and become tireless advocates for peace and agreement in the spirit of respect for everybody's rights.

President Aliyev drew the pope’s attention to the outstanding Armenian-Azerbaijan conflict, which has left a million of Azeris homeless and tens of thousands killed, and asked for assistance in resolution of the dispute.

Historic cross gifted

Pope John Paul II was presented a cross of the ancient Alban Christian church in Baku by Zurab Kananchev of Azeri Udins. He said ancient Alban churches are under Armenian occupation and touted as Armenian artifacts.

Albania, an ancient Azeri realm, existed for about a thousand years, starting the 4th-5th centuries B.C, was the first Caucasus monarchy to embrace Christianity.

The Russian Tsar granted the possession of the church to the Armenian Gregorian church in 1850. Thus, Azeri Christians lost their historic roots and assimilated into Upper Garabagh Armenians.

The remnants of the first church in the Caucasus are in the village of Kish in Shaki, Azerbaijan.

The ethnic population of the ancient Albania is Udins, Gregorian Christians that have preserved their language and traditions to the present day.