CARDINAL BERTONE PRAISES RELIGIOUS TOLERANCE IN AZERBAIJAN, OPENS NUNCIATURE

Catholic News Agency
March 11 2008
CO

Vatican City, Mar 11, 2008 / 10:23 am (CNA).- Despite a state of
emergency in Armenia shortening his visit, Cardinal Bertone has
successfully completed his trip to Armenia and Azerbaijan. The major
theme of the visit was a focus on inter-religious harmony.

Interestingly, the visit by the cardinal followed in the footsteps
of Pope John Paul II, who visited the countries in 2001 and 2002
respectively.

In Armenia, Cardinal Bertone met with His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme
Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, and gave him a Letter from
Benedict XVI in which the Pope expressed his hopes for peace in the
country and for continuation along the path of ecumenism. The cardinal
also met with representatives of the Catholic community of Armenia,
which is a minority in the country.

On March 6, Cardinal Bertone began the second stage of his journey,
traveling to Azerbaijan where, in the capital city of Baku, he presided
over the opening of the church of the Immaculate Conception, which
was shut down by the Soviets 70 years ago.

In his remarks at the opening ceremony, Cardinal Bertone said that
the presence of the church is a sign "of true religious tolerance"
in a land with a Muslim majority. "Civilization rests on a rock that
is concrete-the serene coexistence of different religions," he added.

One of the most symbolic moments of the cardinal’s visit to this former
Soviet republic -which is 94.3 percent Muslim-was his visit to the
mosque of Baku. Allashukur Pashazade, head of Muslims in the Caucasus,
received the cardinal in his residence in the presence of religious
leaders of the Russian Orthodox Church and the Jewish community.

After visiting the mosque, Cardinal Bertone participated in a prayer
of welcome at the Russian Orthodox cathedral where he expressed the
hope that, as soon as possible, "the visible unity of the Church may
be expressed". He then went on to visit the synagogue of Baku.

Religious tolerance was also a theme for the Cardinal Secretary of
State’s meeting with the head of Azerbaijan’s Foreign Affair Ministry
(FAM), Elmar Mamedyarov. After meeting with Mamedyarov, Cardinal
Bertone announced that the Vatican would be opening a Nunciature
in Baku. According to Interfax, he praised "the current religion
traditions in Azerbaijan and the state policy in religion affairs"
in his announcement about the new diplomatic ties.

The final event of the secretary of State’s visit to Azerbaijan was
his celebration of Mass on March 9 at the newly constructed Immaculate
Conception church, where he addressed words of encouragement to the
Catholic community of the country. The church has been built on land
donated to John Paul II on his 2002 visit by President Heydar Aliyev,
father of the current head of State.