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During his Sunday meeting with the representatives of the Azerbaijani government, public organizations and diplomatic corps in Baku, Pope Francis said he hoped the international community might be able to offer unfailingly its indispensable help for the resolution of the Karabakh conflict, the Azerbaijani news agency Trend reports.

In order to initiate a new phase for stable peace in the region, Pope invited everyone to grasp every opportunity to reach a satisfactory solution of the conflict.

“I am confident that, with the help of God, and the good will of those involved, the Caucasus will be a place where, through dialogue and negotiation, disputes and differences will be resolved and overcome,” the Pontiff noted.

Pope noted that by such means, the area – “a gateway between East and West”, in the beautiful image used by Saint John Paul II when he visited Azerbaijan in 2002 – would also become a gateway open to peace, and an example to which we can look to solve old and new conflicts.

According to Pope Francis, the world, unfortunately, is experiencing the tragedy of many conflicts fuelled by intolerance, which in turn is fomented by violent ideologies and by the effective denial of the rights of the weakest.

“In order to effectively oppose these dangerous deviations, we need to promote a culture of peace, which is fostered by an untiring willingness for dialogue and by the awareness that there is no reasonable alternative to patiently and assiduously searching for shared solutions by means of committed and sustained negotiations,” Pope said.

According to him, just as within a country’s borders it is necessary to promote harmony among the various sectors, so too between states it is necessary to persevere wisely and courageously on the path which leads to authentic progress and the freedom of peoples, opening up new avenues that lead to lasting agreements and peace.

“In this way, peoples will be spared grave suffering and painful wounds, which are difficult to heal,” Pope Francis said.

On October 2, the Holy Father Pope Francis visited Azerbaijan, where he held meetings with the president Ilham Aliyev, the Chairman of the Caucasian Muslim Board, the representatives of the Russian Orthodox Church, as well as the representatives of the catholic and Jewish communities. He visited Georgia the day before.

To remind, the journey of Pope Francis to Armenia, the 1st Christian Nation started on June 24. The official welcome ceremony took place at “Zvartnots” International Airport of Yerevan. Afterwards, the Pope visited the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin Apostolic Cathedral. Greetings were given by the Catholicos of All Armenians, Karekin II and by Pope Francis. On the same day, meetings with the Armenian President, Serzh Sargsyan, civil authorities and the Diplomatic Corps were held at the Presidential Palace. At the end of the day, the Pope met with Catholicos Karekin II in private. During the 2nd day of his journey, June 25, Pope Francis visited Tsitsernakaberd Memorial Complex.

Afterwards, with Catholicos Karekin II, the Pope flew to Gyumri to give the Holy Mass at Vartanants Square. The Pope also visited the Armenian Apostolic Cathedral of the Seven Wounds and Holy Martyrs Armenian Catholic Cathedral in Gyumri. On the same day, Ecumenical Encounter and Prayer for Peace were delivered at the Republic Square of Yerevan. On June 26, the Holy Father Pope Francis and the Catholicos of All Armenians, Karekin II, signed a joint declaration. The primates also visited Khor Virap Monastery. The same day, Pope Francis flied to Rome from Yerevan.