President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, alongside First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva, visited the Church of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Baku to express their condolences over the passing of Pope Francis.
The Azerbaijani leaders were greeted by Bishop Vladimir Fekete, the Apostolic Prefect of the Catholic Church in Azerbaijan, who warmly welcomed them to the church, Caliber.Az reports via Azertag.
In a solemn gesture of respect, President Aliyev and First Lady Aliyeva signed the book of condolences, honouring the late Pope’s legacy and contributions to global peace, interfaith dialogue, and humanitarian efforts.
Pope Francis, the first Latin American leader of the Roman Catholic Church, passed away on April 21, 2025, after suffering a stroke and cardiac arrest. He was 88 years old and had been battling health issues, including a recent bout of pneumonia. His death came as a surprise, especially after he had appeared in St. Peter's Square just days earlier, suggesting his recovery was progressing well. Pope Francis, born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Argentina, was elected pope in 2013.
By Vugar Khalilov
Source: caliber.az
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