Nei Giardini Vaticani la piantumazione di un albero di melograno donato dall’Azerbaigian

In segno di amicizia

Quale gesto simbolico di amicizia tra lo Stato della Città del Vaticano e l’Azerbaigian è stato piantumato un albero di melograno nei Giardini Vaticani. L’occasione è stata la visita di S.E. la signora Mehriban Aliyeva, Primo Vice-Presidente della Repubblica di Azerbaigian.

La cerimonia è avvenuta, venerdì mattina, 17 ottobre, alla presenza di Sr. Raffaella Petrini, Presidente del Governatorato dello Stato della Città del Vaticano, di Anar Alakbarov, assistente del Presidente della Repubblica dell’Azerbaigian, di Elchin Amirbayov, Rappresentante del Presidente della Repubblica con incarichi speciali, di Ilgar Yusif oğlu Mukhtarov, Ambasciatore della Repubblica dell’Azerbaigian presso la Santa Sede, e di alcuni membri della famiglia Aliyeva: Leyla, Arzu e Alyona.

In Azerbaigian, i melograni, noti come “nar”, sono considerati il “re dei frutti”, sono carichi di simbolismo: rappresentano amore, fertilità, abbondanza e prosperità.

Precedentemente, la signora Aliyeva è stata ricevuta nel Palazzo del Governatorato, dove è stata accolta dal Presidente del Governatorato che, per l’occasione, ha rivolto alla Delegazione azera un breve saluto.

Di seguito il discorso pronunciato in inglese dal Presidente:

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.