Heavenly Religions

Azerbaijani carpets dedicated to the three Abrahamic religions: Islam, Christianity and Judaism

Tuesday 29 September 2026, 10.00

Anima Mundi Ethnological Museum, Vatican Museums

The speakers will be:

Sr. Raffaella Petrini, F.S.E. – President of the Governorate of Vatican City State

His Excellency Ilgar Mukhtarov – Ambassador of the Republic of Azerbaijan to the Holy See

Barbara Jatta – Director of the Vatican Museums

Press Release

Vatican City, 29 September 2026. The exhibition Religioni Celesti – “Heavenly Religions” - on view from 29 September at the Anima Mundi Ethnological Museum of the Vatican Museums – presents three Azerbaijani carpets dedicated to Islam, Christianity and Judaism. The exhibition, organised by the Governorate of Vatican City State and the Embassy of the Republic of Azerbaijan to the Holy See, with the support of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, offers a reflection on the relationship between the three great monotheistic traditions.

The carpets, presented by the First Vice President of Azerbaijan, Mehriban Aliyeva, to Pope Leo XIV in October 2025, are handwoven based on a design by the Azerbaijani artist Eldar Mikayilzada, whose works are characterised by the richness of their patterns, attention to detail and the use of numerous shades of colour, which lend depth and movement to the compositions. The result is a collection of great refinement, which celebrates the tradition of Azerbaijani carpet-making through a contemporary artistic sensibility.

The choice of the carpet as an expressive form links the project to one of Azerbaijan’s most significant artistic heritages, a tradition characterised by a wealth of ornamental motifs, a variety of techniques and a strong symbolic component.

The tradition of the art of the Azerbaijani carpet, passed down orally and through practice and organised into various regional schools, was inscribed in 2010 on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, testifying to its cultural value and its continuity over time.

The Anima Mundi Ethnological Museum of the Vatican Museums offers a particularly meaningful setting for the display of Azerbaijani carpets. The vocation of the Museum, which involves collecting works and artefacts from diverse cultures, allows the value of these artefacts to be highlighted not only as artistic expressions, but also as part of a cultural tradition that Azerbaijan has managed to preserve and renew over time.

Journalists and media operators who wish to participate must apply via the Holy See Press Office online accreditation system, at: press.vatican.va/accreditamenti.

All requests must be received no later than 24 hours before the event.

Info: stampa.musei@scv.va