Kazakhstan - Vatican

17.10.1992

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Establishment of diplomatic relations

2001

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Apostolic Nunciature opened in Nur-Sultan

Ambassador of the Republic of Kazakhstan to the Vatican

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Alibek Bakayev (from 04.12.2020)

Apostolic Nuncio to the Republic of Kazakhstan

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Archbishop Francis Assisi Chullicatt

(since 10.10. 2016)

Contacts at the highest level

The first President of the Republic of Kazakhstan – Elbasy N.Nazarbayev

24.09.1998

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the first official visit of President N.Nazarbayev to the Vatican, during which an Agreement on Relations between the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Holy See was signed

6.02.2003

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during an official visit to Italy, President Nazarbayev met with Pope John Paul II and Vatican Secretary of State A. Sodano (Vatican)

6.11.2009

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President Nazarbayev paid an official visit to the Vatican during which he met with Pope Benedict XVI and State Secretary of the Holy See Cardinal T. Bertone

Pope's Visits to Kazakhstan

September 22-25, 2001

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The Pope John Paul II paid a state pastoral visit to Kazakhstan. The Pontiff met with the Head of State, the youth of Kazakhstan, artists and cultural figures, and celebrated the Divine Liturgy and Holy Mass at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Unceasing Help in Nur-Sultan by clergy from Kazakhstan and Central Asia.

Contacts at a high level

November 29 -

December 4, 2010

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Cardinal T.Bertone, State Secretary of the Holy See, paid an official visit to Kazakhstan. In the course of negotiations with the top leadership of Kazakhstan, assurances were received that the Vatican would continue to support the activities of the Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions. Appreciating the achievements of Kazakhstan's policy in the field of inter-ethnic and interreligious harmony, Secretary of State expressed hope for further strengthening of bilateral cooperation in this area

06.03.2012

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within the framework of Kazakhstan's chairmanship in the Organization of Islamic Cooperation at the initiative of the Embassy of the Republic of Kazakhstan in Switzerland and the Vatican, the Ambassadors of the OIC member countries accredited to the Holy See met with the Secretary for Relations with States (Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Vatican) D.Mamberti. During the meeting, the ambassadors officially handed over a letter-statement of the OIC, in which they expressed a request to respect the legitimate territorial and legal rights of the Palestinian side in the text of the future agreement between the Vatican and Israel. For his part, D. Mamberti confirmed the Vatican's unwavering position on supporting the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people to self-determination and liberation of the occupied territories

September 5-9, 2012

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the official visit of the Papal Legate, Dean of the College of Cardinals A. Sodano to Kazakhstan was a confirmation of the high relations and full mutual understanding between Astana and the Vatican. During the visit, meetings were held with the head of state, as well as with the Chairman of the Senate of the Parliament of Kazakhstan. The parties reaffirmed their desire to further strengthen bilateral relations and mutual support for international initiatives on interfaith harmony and tolerance

6.06.2018

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the Chairman of the Senate of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan K. Tokayev visited the Vatican. During the meeting with Vatican Secretary of State Pietro Parolin, the parties noted the proximity of the two states in strengthening global security and continuing the dialogue between religions, cultures and civilizations

6.11.2021

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the Chairman of the Senate of the Parliament - Head of the Secretariat of the Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions M. Ashimbayev paid an official visit to the Vatican. During his meeting with Pope Francis M. Ashimbayev handed over the invitation on behalf of the President of Kazakhstan K. Tokayev to the VII Congress and said that the forthcoming forum will discuss the role of world and traditional religions' leaders in the social and spiritual development of mankind in the post-pandemic period. In turn, the pontiff thanked for the invitation and emphasized the importance of the initiative, noting the important role of Kazakhstan in promoting global interreligious dialogue. Within the framework of the visit there were also meetings with the Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal P. Parolin and President of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue, Cardinal M. Ayuso Guixot

Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions

2003

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the Holy See's delegation to the First Congress was led by Cardinal Joseph Tomko (Vatican City), President of the Congregation for Evangelization

2006

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the Holy See's delegation to the Second Congress was led by Cardinal Roger Etchegaray, President Emeritus of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace

2009

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the Holy See's delegation to the Third Congress was led by Cardinal Jean-Louis Toran, President of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue

2012

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The delegation of the Holy See to the Fourth Convention was headed by Cardinal Giovanni Lajolo, President Emeritus of the Pontifical Commission for the Vatican City State, Governor of the Vatican City State

2015

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The delegation of the Holy See to the Fifth Congress was led by Cardinal Jean-Louis Toran, President of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue

2018

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The delegation of the Holy See to the Sixth Congress was led by Cardinal Francisco Coccopalmerio, President of the Pontifical Council for the Interpretation of Legislative Texts. The Pontifical Council of the Vatican was awarded the first prize of the Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions for its contribution to interreligious dialogue.