The Governorate of Vatican City State and the Heydar Aliyev Foundation have signed an agreement for the restoration of the Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls. The document was signed by Anar Alakbarov, Assistant to the President of Azerbaijan and Executive Director of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, and Cardinal Fernando Vérgez Alzaga, President of the Governorate of Vatican City State.

During meetings with various officials, including Cardinal Fernando Vérgez Alzaga, Anar Alakbarov discussed the relationship between Azerbaijan and the Holy See, as well as joint projects with the Heydar Aliyev Foundation.

The Heydar Aliyev Foundation has previously contributed to the restoration of several historically significant monuments in the Vatican and has been actively involved in cultural heritage protection.

The Azerbaijani delegation also visited the Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls, one of the Vatican’s major monuments, designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1980. In 2025, over 30 million Catholic pilgrims are expected to visit the basilica during Jubilee 2025, a once-every-25-years event organized by the Vatican. The restoration work aims to ensure safe access for visitors to this important religious site during the Jubilee Year 2025.