CHAIRMAN OF THE STATE COMMITTEE ON AFFAIRS WITH RELIGIOUS ASSOCIATIONS OF THE REPUBLIC OF AZERBAIJAN RAMIN MAMMADOV VISITED THE BAKU CATHOLIC CHURCH OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY

A meeting was held between the Apostolic Prefect of the Catholic Church in Azerbaijan Bishop Vladimir Fekete and Chairman of the State Committee on Affairs with Religious Associations of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ramin Mammadov in the main Catholic church of Baku – the Church of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Bishop Vladimir Fekete warmly welcomed the head of the State Committee and spoke about the history of the construction of the Church of the Immaculate Conception, the exceptional role of Pope John Paul II and National Leader Heydar Aliyev in the revival of the religious life of the Catholic community of Azerbaijan and the restoration of Church structures in our country.

R. Mammadov got acquainted with the chapels of the church, the interior decorations, stained glass and ceramic religious images, which were installed in the church by the personal initiative of the First Vice-President of the country Mehriban Aliyeva and with the assistance and financial support of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation.

The head of the State Committee also got acquainted with the photo stands installed in the church demonstrating fragments of the historical visits of Pope John Paul II and Pope Francis to Azerbaijan.

During the meeting, which continued in the tea room at the Church of the Immaculate Conception, a high level of mutual respect and understanding between the Azerbaijani State and the Catholic Church was noted.

Bishop Vladimir Fekete expressed deep gratitude to the government of Azerbaijan for its attention to the needs of the Catholic community and for the conditions created in the country for the free activity of religious communities and the peaceful coexistence of representatives of various faiths.

The head of the Catholics of Azerbaijan especially noted the role of the State Committee in the implementation of the policy of tolerance and multiculturalism and thanked the leadership and staff of the Committee for constructive interaction with the Apostolic Prefecture of the Catholic Church in Azerbaijan and for the high level of efficiency.

The Chairman of the Committee R. Mammadov spoke about the great attention and care of the National Leader Heydar Aliyev to the Catholic community of Azerbaijan, about the successful continuation of this policy by President Ilham Aliyev, about the role of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation and the First Vice-President of Azerbaijan Mehriban Aliyeva in establishing good relations and fruitful cooperation between Azerbaijan and the Catholic Church.

Touching upon the importance of promoting at the international level the policy of harmonious coexistence of religions and cultures carried out under the leadership of President Ilham Aliyev, R. Mammadov noted that the religious and ethno-cultural diversity of Azerbaijan is one of the main factors in the rapid development of the country. Next, issues of interaction and intensification of contacts between the State Committee and the Apostolic Prefecture of the Catholic Church in Azerbaijan were discussed and prospects for further cooperation were outlined.