Close friendly relations have been established between the Vatican and Azerbaijan, and these relations are especially actively developing in the humanitarian sphere, Bishop Vladimir Fekete, apostolic prefect of Azerbaijan, told Trend.

He reminded that the government of Azerbaijan within humanitarian cooperation provided assistance to the Vatican in the reconstruction of the ancient catacombs, which shows a high level of friendly relations between the two states.

The opening of the Saint Marcellino and Pietro’s catacombs, the restoration of which started in 2012, took place in the Vatican in February 2016, and the catacombs of St. Sebastian (restoration work began in 2016) in September 2018.

"Humanitarian interaction involves a large range of bilateral cooperation between the Vatican and Azerbaijan," he said. "Very ancient documents, letters and materials relating to Azerbaijan have been found in the archives of the Vatican, and the possibility of holding an exhibition in Baku at which these interesting documents may be presented to the Azerbaijani public is being discussed at the level of the governments of the two countries. At the moment, this issue is in the spotlight of the Vatican and Azerbaijan governments."

He reminded that the Vatican was among the first states to recognize the independence of Azerbaijan, with which diplomatic relations were established.

"From the very beginning, the Holy See - the Vatican and Azerbaijan enjoyed a high level of trusting relationships that continue to this day," he said. "I believe that the agreement on the legal status of the Catholic Church in Azerbaijan signed in 2011 further strengthened these bilateral relations."