On October 16, First Vice-President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Mehriban Aliyeva, accompanied by Cardinal James Harvey, the Archpriest of the Papal Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls, visited the Basilica in the Vatican City to review the progress of restoration and construction work carried out with the support of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation.
Priest Don Lodovico Turrisi and architect Marco Ciriachi provided First Vice-President Mehriban Aliyeva with detailed information about the Basilica and the restoration process there.
The Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls is the second largest church in Vatican City after St. Peter’s Basilica and was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1980. Built over the burial site of Saint Paul the Apostle, the Basilica is one of the four major papal basilicas in Rome and is regarded as one of the most sacred and historically significant monuments of the Roman Catholic Church. Inside the Basilica, mosaic portraits of all popes from St. Peter to the present day are displayed. Located away from the bustling environment of the Vatican, the Basilica stands out for its calm and spiritual atmosphere.
On September 11, 2024, within the framework of the “Jubilee Year,” celebrated by the Holy See every 25 years, a document was signed between the Governorate of Vatican City State and the Heydar Aliyev Foundation to ensure the preservation and restoration of the marble coverings and decorative elements of Saint Paul’s Basilica. The document was signed by former President of the Governorate Cardinal Fernando Vérgez Alzaga and Assistant to the President of Azerbaijan, Executive Director of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation Anar Alakbarov.
His Excellency Mr. Ilham Aliyev, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan
Dear Ilham Heydar oglu,
Dear brother,
I take immense pleasure in extending my heartfelt congratulations and best wishes to You, my dear brother, and to the entire people of Azerbaijan on the...
05 November 2026, 18:25Dear Mr. President,
I extend my heartfelt congratulations to you on your re-election as President of the Federative Republic of Brazil.
Azerbaijan attaches great importance to the development of friendly relations with Brazil. I am confident that, in line with the...
05 November 2026, 15:32Dear participants,
I welcome you to the international event titled “UN Governance Innovation Summit: Advancing Future-Ready Institutions” and to Azerbaijan!
Accessible public services, transparency, and digitalization are essential prerequisites for sustainable dev...
05 November 2026, 10:20His Excellency Mr. Ilham Aliyev, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan
Excellency,
On the occasion of Victory Day, celebrated on 8 November, I have the honor to extend my warmest congratulations to Your Excellency and to the people of the Republic of Azerbaijan,...
04 November 2026, 18:31His Excellency Mr. Ilham Aliyev, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan
Assalamualaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh,
I extend my sincere congratulations and best wishes to Your Excellency on the occasion of your country's Victory Day and National Flag Day.
I wish...
04 November 2026, 15:53His Excellency Mr. Ilham Aliyev, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan
Assalamualaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh,
I extend my sincere congratulations and best wishes to Your Excellency on the occasion of your country's Victory Day and National Flag Day.
I wish...
04 November 2026, 15:52His Excellency Mr. Ilham Aliyev, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan
Excellency,
On behalf of the Government and the people of Pakistan, and personally, I extend my warmest felicitations to Your Excellency and the brotherly people of Azerbaijan on the auspicious...
04 November 2026, 15:51
