On 7 October 2026, the 24th Meeting of the Secretariat of the Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions will be held at the Palace of Peace and Reconciliation in Astana.
The meeting will bring together representatives of the world’s major religious traditions - Islam, Christianity, Judaism, Hinduism, Buddhism, Taoism, Shinto and the Baháʼí Faith - as well as heads of international organizations, government and public figures, theologians and leading experts from 20 countries.
A key item on the agenda of the 24th Meeting of the Secretariat will be the consideration and adoption of two international documents initiated by President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev at the 8th Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions and supported by its participants: the "Ethical Code for the Use of Artificial Intelligence in the Sphere of Religion” and the “Role of Religions in Combating Climate Change.”
These initiatives reflect the Congress’s commitment to fostering constructive dialogue among different religious traditions and developing common approaches to the major challenges facing contemporary society. They also seek to strengthen the contribution of religious communities to the promotion of peace, ethical responsibility and sustainable development.
A separate item on the agenda will be the presentation of the Charter of the Rights of the Child with an Incurable Disease. The document sets out fundamental principles aimed at safeguarding the dignity and quality of life of children with incurable diseases and affirms their right to comprehensive medical, psychological and spiritual care and support, with due regard for their religious beliefs and worldview.
On 2-3 October 2026, Astana will host the II Joint Colloquium, “Promoting Health, Promoting Peace: A Shared Commitment to the Care of Vulnerable Children,” organized by the International Center for Interfaith and Interreligious Dialogue and the Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue of the Holy See.
The Colloquium will be co-chaired by Erlan Karin, Vice President of the Republic of Kazakhstan and Head of the Secretariat of the Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions, and Cardinal George Jacob Koovakad, Prefect of the Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue of the Holy See.
The event will bring together official representatives of Kazakhstan and the Holy See, religious leaders, specialists in pediatrics, bioethics and theology, as well as representatives of international organizations and the academic and expert communities.
The program of the Colloquium will focus on three key areas: the moral foundations of care for children and interreligious solidarity; the protection of the rights and dignity of children with incurable diseases; and the advancement of medical, scientific and institutional cooperation. Particular attention will also be given to the potential applications of artificial intelligence in pediatrics and to the ethical principles governing its use.
One of the central topics of discussion will be the draft of Charter of the Rights of the Child with an Incurable Disease, founded on the principles of respect for human dignity, comprehensive care for the child and all-round support for the family. The Kazakh side will also present the experience of the “Zhusan” humanitarian operation as a practical example of assistance provided to children facing particularly difficult life circumstances.
The II Joint Colloquium represents an important mechanism for direct cooperation between Kazakhstan’s International Center for Interfaith and Interreligious Dialogue and the Holy See’s Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue. The first Joint Colloquium was held at the Vatican in April 2024.
This format constitutes an important element of the broader cooperation agenda between the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Holy See, aimed at strengthening interreligious dialogue, fostering a culture of peace and promoting the protection of human dignity.
On 10 September 2026, Ambassador of Kazakhstan Timur Primbetov met in the Vatican with the Prefect of the Vatican Apostolic Library, Don Mauro Mantovani.
The interlocutors discussed the current state of cooperation between the Vatican Apostolic Library and Kazakhstan’s research institutions, as well as prospects for its further development. Particular attention was devoted to the continuation of research by Kazakh scholars into written sources preserved in Vatican collections that are of significant scholarly value for the study of the history of Kazakhstan and the Turkic world.
During the meeting, the Ambassador conveyed to the Prefect an invitation from Professor D.Massimkhanuly, Director General of the R.B.Suleimenov Institute of Oriental Studies, to participate in the International Academic Conference entitled “The Historical and Cultural Heritage of the Turkic World: New Sources and Materials from the Collections of the Vatican and Europe,” to be held in Almaty at the end of September this year.
At the conclusion of the meeting, both sides reaffirmed their mutual interest in further advancing mutually beneficial cooperation.
Dear compatriots,
Today, the international community observes the International Day against Nuclear Tests, established by the United Nations General Assembly at the initiative of our country.
Exactly 35 years ago, amid a complex international situation, the Semipalatinsk Nuclear Test Site was closed. For decades, it inflicted irreparable damage on human health and the environment, leaving a painful mark on the fate of our people. This date will serve as a reminder to all humanity of the tragic consequences of nuclear testing and as a call to prevent such tragedies from ever happening again.
By voluntarily renouncing the fourth-largest nuclear arsenal on the planet, Kazakhstan made a historic choice in favor of peace, security, and sustainable development. This decision fulfilled the aspirations of the people of Kazakhstan and demonstrated our state’s responsibility for the fate of future generations.
Our commitment to peace and friendship with all states, enshrined in the preamble of the New Constitution, remains an unwavering principle of Kazakhstan’s foreign policy. Our country’s position as one of the leaders of the global nuclear- weapons-free movement remains unchanged: we call for dialogue and negotiations among the nuclear-weapons states, the earliest possible entry into force of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty, and decisive multilateral action aimed at eliminating the threat of the use of nuclear weapons.
Nuclear energy must serve exclusively peaceful and constructive purposes. In a nationwide referendum, our people firmly supported the course towards the development of nuclear energy, laying a solid foundation for Kazakhstan’s economic, scientific, and technological progress for decades to come.
This strategic choice is an important part of the transformations opening a new chapter in the country’s sustainable development. Large-scale reforms across all spheres of public life are aimed at building a Just, Progressive, and Clean Kazakhstan.
I am confident that together we will achieve this noble goal.
On 18 August 2026, a meeting with Cardinal George Koovakad, Prefect of the Holy See’s Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue, took place at the Embassy of the Republic of Kazakhstan to the Holy See.
The parties discussed the current state of Kazakhstan-Holy See relations and prospects for further strengthening cooperation in the areas of interreligious and interfaith dialogue.
Particular attention was given to the participation of the Holy See delegation in the 24th Meeting of the Secretariat of the Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions and the Second Kazakhstan–Holy See Colloquium, which are scheduled to take place in the capital of Kazakhstan in early October this year. The parties held an in-depth exchange of views on the substantive and organisational aspects of the forthcoming events.
The Ambassador of Kazakhstan briefed his interlocutor on the wide-ranging political transformations under way in the country, the key provisions of the newly enacted Constitution, as well as preparations for the first elections of deputies to the Qurultay of Kazakhstan. It was noted that the reforms being implemented under the leadership of the Head of State are aimed at further enhancing the political system, strengthening state institutions and advancing the development of civil society.
At the conclusion of the meeting, the parties reaffirmed their mutual interest in further strengthening cooperation between Kazakhstan and the Holy See and in maintaining regular contacts on matters of mutual interest.
The meeting was held in a cordial and constructive atmosphere.
On 10th August, on the occasion of Abai Day, the Embassy of the Republic of Kazakhstan to the Holy See presented to the Vatican Apostolic Library and the Library of the Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue of the Holy See collections of works by the great Kazakh poet, thinker, philosopher and humanist Abai Qunanbaiuly in Italian and English.
The presentation of these collections, comprising Abai’s poetic, journalistic and epistolary works, to the library institutions of the Holy See contributes to a broader international appreciation of his rich literary and intellectual legacy, which continues to retain its global significance as a source of humanistic ideas fostering mutual respect, harmony and spiritual dialogue among representatives of different cultures and traditions.
This initiative is also aimed at strengthening cultural and humanitarian ties between Kazakhstan and the Holy See, while promoting mutual interest in the study of the spiritual and ethical traditions of East and West.
Abai’s multifaceted creative legacy, which organically combines national identity with universal human values, provides a meaningful foundation for intercultural and inter-civilizational dialogue.
Abai’s works have been translated into dozens of languages, while monuments and busts dedicated to him have been erected in numerous capitals and major cities around the world, including Rome.
On the same day, diplomats from the Embassies of the Republic of Kazakhstan to the Holy See and to the Italian Republic paid tribute to the great Abai by laying flowers at his bust, which was solemnly unveiled in October 2025 in Rome’s Villa Grazioli Park.
On 30 July 2026, Ambassador Timur Primbetov held a meeting at the Embassy of the Republic of Kazakhstan to the Holy See with Professor Tiziano Onesti, President of Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital.
The meeting was also attended by A.Cristaldi, Head of the Hospital’s International Programs, and D.Ponzi, Coordinator of International Projects.
During the discussion, the parties conducted a substantive review of the current state of cooperation between Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital and paediatric medical institutions in Kazakhstan, as well as the prospects for its further development. Particular attention was devoted to the practical implementation of the agreements reached following the visit of the Hospital’s delegation to Kazakhstan in September 2025.
A separate focus of the meeting was the participation of a Bambino Gesù delegation in the Kazakhstan-Vatican Colloquium, scheduled to take place in Astana in October 2026. The event is being jointly organized by the International Centre for Interfaith and Interreligious Dialogue and the Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue of the Holy See.
At the conclusion of the meeting, the parties noted the positive momentum in their cooperation and reaffirmed their mutual interest in achieving concrete and practical outcomes.
I. Purpose of the Competition
“Kazakhstan Through My Eyes” is an online art competition for ethnic Kazakh children living abroad.
The competition aims to encourage participants to creatively express their vision of Kazakhstan, their love for their homeland, its historical and cultural heritage, natural beauty, national values, and aspirations for the future.
The main objectives of the competition are:
III. Artwork Requirements
The competition accepts digital versions of hand-drawn artworks created on paper.
Participants may use any traditional art materials and tools, including:
Relevance to the Theme
The extent to which the artwork fully and meaningfully reflects the theme “Kazakhstan Through My Eyes.”
Creativity
The originality of the idea, imagination, and creative approach demonstrated by the participant.
Artistic Skill
The quality of drawing technique, composition, color harmony, proportions, and overall execution.
National Content
The effectiveness of depicting Kazakhstan’s culture, history, nature, and national values.
Emotional Impact
The artwork’s ability to convey the author’s thoughts and emotions and to engage the viewer.
V. Competition Timeline
Creative works will be accepted from June 17 to August 28, 2026.
The jury will determine the winners within 30 calendar days after the submission deadline.
VI. Competition Results and Awards
Based on the jury’s decision, 10 winners will be selected.
Winners will receive First-, Second-, and Third-Degree Diplomas, as well as special prizes:
Encouragement Prize:
The best artworks will be published on the organizers’ official information resources and featured in an online exhibition.
In addition, the 10 participants whose works are recognized as the best may be required to send the original artwork to the Otandastar Qory (NJSC) at their own expense.
On 14 July 2026, Ambassador of the Republic of Kazakhstan to the Holy See Timur Primbetov met at the Embassy with Paolo Affatato, a prominent Italian journalist and Asia Editor of the Fides News Agency, which operates under the Dicastery for Evangelization of the Holy See.
The interlocutors discussed prospects for cooperation in the field of information and media outreach, including opportunities to provide broader coverage of the political, social and economic reforms being implemented in Kazakhstan under the leadership of President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev.
Particular attention was devoted to Kazakhstan’s international initiatives aimed at strengthening peace and mutual understanding, as well as promoting interreligious, interconfessional and intercultural dialogue.
The parties also explored opportunities for the preparation and publication of informational and analytical materials ahead of major international events to be held in Kazakhstan.
The Vatican journalist expressed his interest in developing constructive cooperation with the Embassy and his readiness to contribute to the coverage of relevant topics through the information platforms of the Fides News Agency.
Following the meeting, the parties agreed to examine the possibility of publishing materials dedicated to the Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions in the lead-up to the 24th Meeting of the Secretariat of the Congress, scheduled to take place in Astana in October 2026.
From June 24 to July 3, 2026, a delegation of scientists from the R.B.Suleimenov Institute of Oriental Studies conducted a research visit to the Vatican.
The visit was carried out as part of the practical implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding between the Institute of Oriental Studies and the Vatican Apostolic Library and the Vatican Apostolic Archive, as well as within the framework of the research project «The Early and Medieval History and Culture of the Turkic World Based on the Unique Materials of the Vatican».
During the visit, the delegation conducted comprehensive research in the collections of the Vatican Apostolic Library and the Vatican Apostolic Archive. The study focused on historical sources relating to the medieval history of the Turkic peoples, the eras of the Desht-i Kipchak and the Golden Horde, as well as the distinctive features of diplomatic and cultural relations between Turkic states and the Holy See.
Particular attention was devoted to archival materials concerning the unique monument of the Kipchak language, the «Codex Cumanicus», as well as to rare XIV century cartographic sources depicting Central Asia, the Caspian region and the urban centers of the Silk Road. The researchers identified archival references for a number of previously understudied documents of significant scholarly value, providing new opportunities for further analysis of the historical relations between Turkic states and Western Europe.
The findings substantially expand the source base of Kazakhstan’s historiography and lay the foundation for further fundamental research into the history and cultural heritage of the Turkic world through the unique primary sources preserved in the Vatican.