As part of the visit to Vatican, a delegation of religious confession leaders from Azerbaijan, led by Sheikhulislam Allahshukur Pashazade, Chairman of the Caucasus Muslims Office (CMO), visited the Vatican Apostolic Library.

Prefect Don Mauro Mantovani briefed the delegation on the history and activities of the library. He noted that founded in 1475, the Vatican Apostolic Library is one of the oldest and most renowned scientific and cultural centers in the world. For centuries it has preserved millions of books and tens of thousands of manuscripts.

“The library includes 80,000 manuscripts, 2 million books, and Vatican coins from different historical periods. Currently, the library is carrying out a manuscript digitization project with the support of numerous sponsors from around the world. Within this project, thousands of manuscripts can be viewed online free of charge. The manuscripts represent the most valuable portion of the materials preserved in the Vatican Apostolic Library. In the coming years, the digitization of all 80,000 manuscripts, approximately 40 million pages will be completed,” he added.

Following the tour of the library, the sides exchanged commemorative gifts.

It was also noted that the library’s collection includes around 60 rare manuscripts related to Azerbaijan. The documents are extremely rare manuscripts covering the period from the 9th to the 18th centuries. Among them are unique manuscripts of world-renowned Azerbaijani poets and thinkers such as Nizami Ganjavi, Mahammad Fuzuli, Imadaddin Nasimi, as well as valuable works in various fields of science by many medieval scholars previously unknown in the country.

Sheikhulislam Allahshukur Pashazade also visited the Vatican Gardens where he viewed the pomegranate tree planted as a gift from Azerbaijan to the Holy See. The tree was planted on October 17, 2025, by First Vice-President of Azerbaijan Mehriban Aliyeva as a symbol of friendship between the Holy See and the Republic of Azerbaijan.

As part of the visit, an iftar dinner will be organized today in Rome at the initiative of the Embassy of the Republic of Azerbaijan to the Holy See and the Caucasus Muslims Office.