En los Jardines Vaticanos la plantación de un árbol de granada donado por Azerbaiyán
En señal de amistad
Como gesto simbólico de amistad entre el Estado de la Ciudad del Vaticano y la Azerbaiyán, se plantó un granado en los Jardines Vaticanos. La ocasión fue la visita de Su Excelencia la señora Mehriban Aliyeva, Primera Vicepresidenta de la República de Azerbaiyán.
La ceremonia tuvo lugar el viernes por la mañana, 17 de octubre, en presencia de Sor Raffaella Petrini, Presidenta de la Gobernación del Estado de la Ciudad del Vaticano; de Anar Alakbarov, asistente del Presidente de la República de Azerbaiyán; de Elchin Amirbayov, Representante del Presidente de la República con encargos especiales; de Ilgar Yusif oğlu Mukhtarov, Embajador de la República de Azerbaiyán ante la Santa Sede; así como de algunos miembros de la familia Aliyeva: Leyla, Arzu y Alyona.
En Azerbaiyán, los granados, conocidos como nar, son considerados el «rey de los frutos» y están cargados de simbolismo: representan el amor, la fertilidad, la abundancia y la prosperidad.
Con anterioridad, la señora Aliyeva fue recibida en el Palacio de la Gobernación, donde fue acogida por la Presidenta de la Gobernación, quien, para la ocasión, dirigió un breve saludo a la Delegación azerbaiyana.
A continuación se reproduce el discurso pronunciado en inglés por la Presidenta:
I extend my warm greetings to the First Vice-President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Her Excellency Mrs. Mehriban Aliyeva, and her family,
to the Ambassador of the Republic of Azerbaijan to the Holy See, His Excellency Ilgar Yusif oğlu Mukhtarov, to the Authorities present,
It is a great honor for me to be here today, and to welcome you to the Governorate of Vatican City State. Later we will celebrate this occasion with a gesture that is simple yet deeply symbolic, the friendship that binds the Vatican City State with the Republic of Azerbaijan.
The planting of a pomegranate tree represents a gesture of hope, peace, and cooperation. In this regard, I wish to recall the generous contribution of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation for its contribution in the safeguarding and preservation of the marble cladding and decorative elements of the Papal Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls. This project, funded by the Foundation based in Baku, was carried out for the Jubilee Year 2025, when hundreds of thousands of pilgrims are expected to visit the Basilicas in Rome.
The pomegranate, known as the “king of fruits,” is for the Azerbaijani people a symbol of abundance, health and prosperity. Indeed, in Azerbaijan it is also a national symbol, deeply rooted in the culture and identity of its people.
With the planting of this pomegranate tree in the Vatican Gardens, we wish to strengthen our friendship, in order to promote dialogue, respect and cooperation.
I would like to recall the words of Pope Francis during his meeting with the Azerbaijani Authorities at the “Heydar Aliyev” Center in Baku, on Sunday, October 2, 2016:
“I have come to this country bearing in my heart admiration for the complexity and richness of its culture, the fruit of the contribution of the many peoples who have inhabited these lands throughout history, giving rise to a fabric of experiences, values and features that characterize today’s society and are expressed in the prosperity of the modern Azerbaijani State.”
In a world so often marked by divisions, we desire to build bonds of friendship, bonds that have deep roots, like those of the pomegranate tree.
My hope is that the tree may grow strong, like the friendship between our communities, and that it may bear fruit, such as those of peace and dialogue.
We must not forget that Catholics living in your country maintain cordial relations with Muslims, Orthodox Christians and Jews. This is a sign of hope and an example for the entire world, as it shows how it is possible to build bridges for peaceful coexistence, for the good of society as a whole.
Let me conclude by expressing my heartfelt gratitude to all those who have made this special event possible, and to the Azerbaijani Authorities for their presence and kind availability.
Thank you.
