Cardinal George Jacob Koovakad, Prefect of the Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue, visited Azerbaijan from June 15-19, 2026, to underline the importance of tolerance, multiculturalism, and cooperation between the Holy See and Azerbaijan for peaceful coexistence among faith communities. The visit drew on two symbols meaningful to Azerbaijan: “fire,” representing love, and “wind,” for which Baku is known — both at the heart of the joint commitment being renewed.On June 18, at the Baku residence of Sheikh ul-Islam of the Caucasus, Allahshukur Pashazade, Cardinal Koovakad expressed gratitude for the warm welcome and long-standing friendship between the Holy See and Azerbaijan’s religious communities. With Apostolic Prefect Vladimír Fekete, Ambassador Ilgar Mukhtarov, and representatives of local Christian and Jewish communities present, he recalled visits by John Paul II in 2002 and Pope Francis in 2016, saying these and other initiatives have strengthened ties.
Inspired by Vatican II’s Nostra aetate, the Cardinal emphasized that “Christians and Muslims have thus sought to walk together in the service of peace, recognizing that we worship the one God, Creator of heaven and earth.” He noted that a 2011 bilateral agreement and last year’s memorandum on religious cooperation show a shared conviction that “dialogue is not merely an exchange of ideas, but a journey toward deeper understanding, trust, and collaboration.”Looking ahead, he said what has been built must push both sides toward Pope Leo XIV’s “civilization of love” from Magnifica humanitas. He reaffirmed five commitments: disarm words that sow hostility; build peace in justice by defending every person’s dignity; adopt victims’ perspective and listen to those who suffer; renew dialogue among religions, cultures, and peoples; and strengthen diplomacy and multilateral cooperation.
These, he stressed, are “urgent responsibilities,” not just noble aspirations.On June 16, Cardinal Koovakad also met President Ilham Aliyev in Baku. According to Azertag, he conveyed greetings from Pope Leo XIV and Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin. They highlighted the role of Azerbaijan’s Catholic Church and the construction of a second church in the country. The meeting also underscored tolerance and multiculturalism for peace, and cooperation between the Holy See and the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, especially on preserving cultural heritage and promoting interreligious dialogue through various projects.