A new agreement has been signed between the Governorate of the Vatican City State and the Heydar Aliyev Foundation regarding restoration work at the Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls. According to Operative Information Center-OMM, citing AZERTAC, the document was signed in the Vatican by Anar Alakbarov, Assistant to the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan and Executive Director of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, and Sister Raffaella Petrini, Secretary General of the Governorate of the Vatican City State.
Under the framework of the new project, the restoration of the statues of Saint Paul and Saint Peter located inside the Basilica, as well as the statues of Saint Paul and Saint Luke in the courtyard, is planned. During a tour of the complex accompanied by Cardinal James Michael Harvey, Archpriest of the Basilica, detailed information was provided regarding the work already completed by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation and the tasks scheduled for the next phases.
The restoration process will utilize advanced modern technologies, including laser cleaning of surfaces and conservation using eco-friendly biological agents. These methods were previously implemented successfully in the Vatican Gardens. The Basilica of Saint Paul is the second-largest church in the Vatican after Saint Peter's Basilica and is one of Rome's four major papal basilicas. Known for its monumental scale, rich mosaics, and extensive colonnades, it serves as a vital religious and cultural monument attracting thousands of pilgrims and tourists annually.
The Heydar Aliyev Foundation, led by First Vice President Mehriban Aliyeva, has a long-standing history of supporting international cultural heritage. This collaboration follows a previous agreement signed on September 11, 2024, as part of the "Holy Jubilee Year" celebrated by the Holy See every 25 years. That agreement covered the preservation and restoration of marble coverings and decorative elements of the Basilica, which have already been successfully completed. Azerbaijan's commitment to restoring Christian sites in the Vatican underscores its role as a global center for multiculturalism and interreligious dialogue.
