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The Vatican signed last month a memorandum of understanding on interreligious dialogue with Azerbaijan, alarming critics who accuse the Azeri government of ethnic cleansing and practicing “caviar diplomacy” by exerting cultural and economic influence to shape Vatican policy in the South Caucasus region.
Cardinal George Koovakad, prefect of the Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue, pictured on Dec. 7, 2024. © Mazur/cbcew.org.uk.
The agreement was signed July 25 by Cardinal George Koovakad, prefect of the Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue, and Azeri authorities.
The memorandum commits the signatories to hosting joint events that promote interreligious and intercultural dialogue, and cooperating in the field of religious education.
The development comes less than two years after a military offensive by Azerbaijan led to the dissolution of the self-declared Republic of Artsakh in the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region, an area internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan but historically populated and controlled by ethnic Armenian Christians until 2023.
The 2023 offensive prompted the flight of more than 120,000 ethnic Armenians and left hundreds dead. Human rights groups and Armenian leaders have described the exodus as a case of ethnic cleansing.
In his remarks to Azeri authorities at a July 28 ceremony, Koovakad referred to a landmark 2011 bilateral agreement between Azerbaijan and the Holy See. He described the agreement as “a valuable instrument for promoting the principle of religious freedom,” which demonstrated “respect for a minority religious community and how Christians and Muslims can live together in harmony.”
Referring to the 60th anniversary of Nostra aetate, Vatican Council II’s declaration on religious freedom, Koovakad said that “new areas of shared commitment have emerged, such as the desire to care for and protect the environment and the need for an ethical use of artificial intelligence.”
“Concrete gestures of cooperation on such important issues will contribute to the construction of a more peaceful world, a desire that resides in the heart of every man and woman of good will,” said the cardinal, who was appointed prefect of the interreligious dialogue dicastery in January.
Continued below.
www.pillarcatholic.com
Cardinal George Koovakad, prefect of the Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue, pictured on Dec. 7, 2024. © Mazur/cbcew.org.uk.
The agreement was signed July 25 by Cardinal George Koovakad, prefect of the Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue, and Azeri authorities.
The memorandum commits the signatories to hosting joint events that promote interreligious and intercultural dialogue, and cooperating in the field of religious education.
The development comes less than two years after a military offensive by Azerbaijan led to the dissolution of the self-declared Republic of Artsakh in the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region, an area internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan but historically populated and controlled by ethnic Armenian Christians until 2023.
The 2023 offensive prompted the flight of more than 120,000 ethnic Armenians and left hundreds dead. Human rights groups and Armenian leaders have described the exodus as a case of ethnic cleansing.
In his remarks to Azeri authorities at a July 28 ceremony, Koovakad referred to a landmark 2011 bilateral agreement between Azerbaijan and the Holy See. He described the agreement as “a valuable instrument for promoting the principle of religious freedom,” which demonstrated “respect for a minority religious community and how Christians and Muslims can live together in harmony.”
Referring to the 60th anniversary of Nostra aetate, Vatican Council II’s declaration on religious freedom, Koovakad said that “new areas of shared commitment have emerged, such as the desire to care for and protect the environment and the need for an ethical use of artificial intelligence.”
“Concrete gestures of cooperation on such important issues will contribute to the construction of a more peaceful world, a desire that resides in the heart of every man and woman of good will,” said the cardinal, who was appointed prefect of the interreligious dialogue dicastery in January.
Continued below.
Critics question Vatican-Azerbaijan interfaith pact
The Vatican signed last month a memorandum of understanding on interreligious dialogue with Azerbaijan, alarming critics who accuse the Azeri government of ethnic cleansing and practicing “caviar diplomacy” by exerting cultural and economic influence to shape Vatican policy in the South Caucasus...
www.pillarcatholic.com
