Visit to Vatican

On February 23, 2016, Azerbaijan’s First Lady, President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation Mehriban Aliyeva was on a visit to Vatican.

Mehriban Aliyeva holds a series of meetings in Vatican

On February 23, Mehriban Aliyeva, in the framework of her visit to Vatican, paid a visit to the Pio-Clementino Museum. Monuments and samples of art restored with the support of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation were reviewed here.

Director of Vatican’s Museum Antonio Paolucci, expressing gratitude to the Heydar Aliyev Foundation and, personally, Mehriban Aliyeva, highly appreciated her activity towards preserving masterpieces of the world culture. Mehriban Aliyeva brought to attention that works in the relevant field will be continued further.

Vatican’s state governor, cardinal Giuseppe Bertello expressed his gratitude to the state of Azerbaijan and, especially, Mehriban Aliyeva. He emphasized the significance of continuing such dialogues in the development of Azerbaijan-Vatican relations. Mehriban Aliyeva, in turn, said our country was interested in continuing this cooperation.

Then, Mehriban Aliyeva viewed closets being restored with the support of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation at the Apostolic Library.

In the Sistine Hall of the museum, Mehriban Aliyeva was given information about the hall’s history and the works of art being preserved here.

A meeting took place at the Pontifical Council for Culture between Mehriban Aliyeva and President of Vatican’s Pontifical Council for Culture Gianfranco Ravasi.

Then an agreement was signed on restoring Saint Sebastian tombs. The agreement was signed by Mehriban Aliyeva and President of Vatican’s Pontifical Council for Culture Gianfranco Ravasi.

Thereafter, questions of correspondents were answered.

Inauguration of the Saints Marcellinus and Peter catacombs

On February 23, inauguration of the Saints Marcellinus and Peter catacombs, restored following the initiative of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, took place in Vatican.

Mehriban Aliyeva attended the ceremony.

First, Mehriban Aliyeva attended the presentation dedicated to the restoration of the Saints Marcellinus and Peter catacombs, having arrived at the Massimo Palace in Rome.

Museum’s director Rita Paris greeted Mehriban Aliyeva and other guests.

Professor Fabricio Biskonti specially thanked Mehriban Aliyeva for the attention shown towards restoring Roman catacombs.

Then a film about the restoration of the catacombs was shown.

President of Vatican’s Pontifical Council for Culture Gianfranco Ravasi emphasized that the catacombs of Saints Marcellinus and Peter were of great moral value for the world culture, especially for Christians.

Mehriban Aliyeva addressed the ceremony.

After the presentation ceremony, Mehriban Aliyeva familiarized herself with masterpieces being preserved in the Massimo Palace Museum.

Then inauguration of the Saints Marcellinus and Peter catacombs took place.

After cutting the ribbon symbolizing an official opening, a plate at the entrance, with information about the catacombs’ being restored by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, was unveiled.

At the end of the ceremony, the attendees and Cardinal Ravasi once more thanked Mehriban Aliyeva for this benevolent activity.

23 February 2016