Petition Statement:

We, the undersigned, are deeply disturbed by the recent agreement between the Heydar Aliyev Foundation of Azerbaijan and the Vatican for the restoration of the Basilica of Saint Paul in Vatican City. This agreement is not only morally indefensible but also ignores the atrocities being committed by Azerbaijan against the Armenian Christian population and their rich cultural and religious heritage.

Azerbaijan has systematically targeted Armenian Christians through ethnic cleansing, forced displacement, and the destruction of their ancient Christian sites. Since the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war, Azerbaijan’s actions have led to the suffering and displacement of thousands of Armenians. The bombing of the Holy Savior Cathedral (Ghazanchetsots) in Shushi and the destruction of the ancient Armenian cemetery in Djulfa are just a few examples of Azerbaijan's deliberate erasure of Armenian Christian heritage.

By partnering with Azerbaijan, the Vatican is legitimizing a regime that continues to destroy Christian history and forcefully displace its Armenian Christian population. This collaboration with a government guilty of cultural genocide is a betrayal of the values of justice and morality that the Catholic Church stands for.

We demand that the Vatican cancel its agreement with Azerbaijan immediately and instead stand in solidarity with the persecuted Christian Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh.

Why is this important?

Azerbaijan’s actions are a direct assault on Christianity. More than a hundred of thousands of Armenian Christians have lost their homes, their heritage, and their lives. Churches, monasteries, and cemeteries that have stood for centuries are being systematically destroyed or falsely "Albanianized" to erase Armenian history.

As Christians, we cannot remain silent while a regime that persecutes its Christian population is allowed to restore a sacred site in the heart of the Christian world. The Vatican must act in defense of Christian values by rejecting this immoral agreement and speaking out against Azerbaijan’s continued atrocities.

By signing this petition, we are calling on His Holiness Pope Francis and the Vatican leadership to:

• Cancel the agreement with the Heydar Aliyev Foundation of Azerbaijan for the restoration of the Basilica of Saint Paul.
• Publicly condemn Azerbaijan’s ethnic cleansing of Armenian Christians and the destruction of Armenian Christian heritage sites.
• Support efforts to protect and preserve Armenian Christian heritage in Nagorno-Karabakh and other regions under threat from Azerbaijani aggression.

Let us stand together in defense of Christian Armenians and ensure that the Vatican upholds the values of justice, morality, and faith.

Sign this petition today and make your voice heard!