Vatican city: 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, noting it was founded in 1475 and has preserved millions of books and tens of thousands of manuscripts over the centuries.

According to Azerbaijan State News Agency, the library includes 80,000 manuscripts, 2 million books, and Vatican coins from different historical periods. The library is currently undertaking a manuscript digitization project with global sponsorship, allowing thousands of manuscripts to be viewed online free of charge. The plan aims to digitize all 80,000 manuscripts, totaling approximately 40 million pages, in the coming years.

Following the tour of the library, the sides exchanged commemorative gifts. It was noted that the library's collection includes around 60 rare manuscripts related to Azerbaijan, which cover the period from the 9th to the 18th centuries. Among these are manuscripts of Azerbaijani poets and thinkers such as Nizami Ganjavi, Mahammad Fuzuli, Imadaddin Nasimi, and valuable works in various fields of science by 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.