Vatican, Uzbekistan United in Pursuit of Diplomacy and Peace

On 6 December 2025, Pope Leo XIV accepted the credentials of thirteen new ambassadors, among them Abat Fayzullaev of Uzbekistan, in Vatican City’s splendid, fresco-festooned Sala Clementia in the Apostolic Palace. The accreditation of Uzbekistan’s ambassador marks a further milestone in the development of Tashkent’s relations with the Holy See. Addressing the new diplomats, Pope Leo XIV asserted the primacy the Holy See accords peace and diplomacy, and its conviction that peace can take root whenever the will to embrace it exists. “Peace is not merely the absence of conflict, but an active and demanding gift, one that is built in the heart and from the heart,” the Pope stated. He called on the ambassadors and the governments they represent to renounce “pride and vindictiveness,” and to resist “the temptation to use words as weapons. This vision of peace has become all the more urgent as geopolitical tension and fragmentation continue to deepen in ways that burden nations and that strain the bonds of the human family.” Pope Leo XIV said the Vatican would continue to publicly condemn grave inequalities, human rights abuses, and systemic injustice, while it defended the dignity of the poor and vulnerable.  This assertion is consistent with the Church’s age-old social teaching and constitutes a veiled jab at the global economic system and its evident defects from the Christian perspective. In line with Central Asia’s broader interest in stability and common-good capitalism, Pope Leo told the ambassadors that “in times of global instability, the poorest and most marginalized often suffer most.” He encouraged the new ambassadors to help lay "the foundations for a more just, fraternal and peaceful world." Uzbekistan has struck a similar chord but from a different angle: “If the greatest gift given to man is life, then the greatest goal humanity has always strived for is, without a doubt, peace and harmony. That is why we always wish each other peace and tranquility, health, and well-being,” Kahramon Sariyev, Chairman of the Committee on Interethnic Relations and Compatriots Abroad of the Republic of Uzbekistan, stated. Central Asians will surely welcome the Pope’s belief that “religions and interreligious dialogue can make a fundamental contribution to fostering a climate of peace and that truly peaceful relationships cannot be built apart from truth.”  Uzbekistan's state media—along with those of other Central Asian countries—have pointed out repeatedly that genuine interfaith and interethnic dialogue is not only possible but essential for peace and stability—perhaps an indication of the impact Central Asia’s Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions has had in calling for a diplomacy rooted in respect for diverse traditions and cultural mores. Tashkent’s diplomatic engagement with the Vatican—embodied in the Uzbek ambassador’s accreditation to the Holy See last week—reflects a convergence of values. The Pope’s call for dialogue over discord sets the stage for deeper Vatican cooperation with Uzbekistan and the wider Central Asian region.

Pope Francis Receives Kyrgyzstan President Japarov

On October 4, during his official visit to Italy, Kyrgyzstan President Sadyr Japarov was received by Pope Francis at the Vatican. As reported by the president's press office, Japarov emphasized Kyrgyzstan's status as a secular, multi-ethnic country which guarantees freedom of religion to the numerous communities which integral to Kyrgyz society,  play an essential role in its development. The Kyrgyz leader also noted that one of the country's key traditional values has always been tolerance and respect for cultural diversity, and extended an open invitation to the Pope to visit. According to the Holy See’s press office, the discussions focused on the cordial relations between the Holy See and Kyrgyzstan and the two states’ "mutual collaboration in the fields of healthcare, education, and culture, and aspects of the life of the local Church." The two leaders also exchanged opinions on current international affairs “with special attention to the ongoing conflicts and humanitarian issues, revealing the importance of urgent commitment to promoting peace." During the audience, Pope Francis presented President Japarov with a terracotta sculpture entitled "Love and Tenderness," a photo book on the Apostolic Palace, and a copy of this year's Message for Peace. In return, President Japarov gifted Pope Francis decorated jars filled with honey ecologically produced in the mountains of Kyrgyzstan, an image of St Peter's Basilica made from colorful wool, and a handcrafted  Kyrgyz silver tea set. Japarov is the third leader of a Central Asian country to meet Pope Francis. In January 2024, Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev made his first official visit to the Holy See at Pope Francis's invitation, at which appreciation was expressed for the good relations between the Holy See and Kazakhstan, particularly regarding mutual collaboration in interreligious dialogue. The meeting followed in the wake of Pope Francis' visit to Kazakhstan in September 2022, to attend the Congress of the Leaders of World and Traditional Religions in Astana. Held in the Kazakh capital every three years, the Congress functions as a permanent international interfaith platform for dialogue between religions. In April 2024, Tajikistan President Emomali Rahmon visited the Vatican and during his meeting with Pope Francis, stressed his country's tolerance and coexistence of representatives of all religions.