The Vatican's Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, traveled to Azerbaijan—which is home to less than 600 Catholics—to strengthen bilateral relations and interreligious dialogue.
While visiting, Cardinal Parolin met with the President as well as the Culture Minister and the Chairman of the Caucasian Muslims Office.
Pope Francis also traveled to the Muslim-majority country in 2016. He has often spoken out against the ongoing ethnic and territorial conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia.
POPE FRANCIS
I watch with concern that in these hours new flames of tensions have been lit in the Caucasus. We continue to pray so that in these lands, peaceful dialogue and harmony prevail.
Last year marked 30 years of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Azerbaijan and the Holy See.
AT
