Summary
In a significant development, Azerbaijan has been receiving special treatment from the highest levels of the Catholic Church despite its ongoing conflict with Armenia. This is exemplified by Pope Francis’s audience in October 2022 with Azerbaijani Vice President Mehriban Aliyeva and her husband, President Ilham Aliyev, where the papal visit was accorded high-status protocol and included a statement on “existing good relations,” particularly in cultural collaboration. In contrast, Armenia has faced neglect from the Vatican regarding its internal conflicts, including ecclesiastical and civil strife within its own Church hierarchy. Pope Francis met with Armenian Patriarch Sahak II of Constantinople on November 30, 2022, but did not extend such privileges to Armenian Catholicos Karekin II, who is at the center of a conflict in his homeland. The Armenian Church has long been under pressure from both internal and external forces. Historically, Armenia and Azerbaijan were part of the Soviet Union until their independence. Since then, they have been embroiled in a protracted conflict over control of Artsakh (also known as Upper Karabakh), an enclave with a significant Armenian population. In recent years, Azerbaijan has leveraged its strategic location for oil and gas resources to improve its international standing. This includes the construction of an oil pipeline that exports energy from Azerbaijan through Georgia and Turkey. By contrast, Armenia’s internal strife and diplomatic isolation have hindered its ability to influence global perceptions or gain support from Catholic institutions.
Key Topics
Vatican City, Aliyeva, Armenian Church
