Baku. Malahat Najafova – APA. Pope Francis arrived in Baku for a one-day visit on Oct. 2.
At the Heydar Aliyev International Airport, Pope Francis was welcomed by Yaqub Eyyubov, Azerbaijani First Deputy Prime Minister and Khalaf Khalafov, Deputy Foreign Minister.
During the visit the pontiff will hold mass in the Catholic church in Baku and have lunch with the Salesian community and the papal entourage.
Pope Francis will then have meetings with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, Chairman of the Caucasian Muslims Office Sheikhulislam Allahshukur Pashazade and representatives of other religious confessions and make a public speech at the Heydar Aliyev Center.
The visit schedule also includes Pope’s visits to the Heydar Mosque and the Alley of Martyrs in Baku.
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08.06
Baku-APA. Today the 266th and current Pope of the Roman Catholic Church Pope Francis starts his one-day visit to Azerbaijan within the framework of the second apostolic visit to the Caucasus from September 30 to October 2, APA reports.
He is waited to arrive in Baku in the morning, today. Following a brief welcome here, he will celebrate Mass at the Salesian centre in Baku and have lunch with the Salesian community here.
In the afternoon, a privately meting is scheduled between Pope Francis President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and then, he will have public speech at Heydar Aliyev Center.
After that the Pope will have a private meeting with the Sheikh of the Muslims of the Caucasus in the Heydar Aliyev Mosque, and also meet the Orthodox bishop of Baku and the president of the Jewish community.
The motto of the papal visit for Azerbaijan is “We are all brothers”.
As the Holy See Press Office announced the motto is inspired by “the words from the Gospel of Matthew (23.8) and the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church that all men are part of a single family were called to the fraternity and friendship”.
At 7.15 p.m., following a farewell ceremony, Pope Francis will leave for Rome's Ciampino airport, where he is expected to arrive at 10 pm.
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