On December 16, Ilham Aliyev, the President of Azerbaijan, received Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, the Holy See's Secretary for Relations with States and International Organizations, to discuss bilateral relations, regional issues, and the construction of a Catholic church dedicated to John Paul II in Azerbaijan.

During the meeting, Archbishop Gallagher conveyed greetings from Pope Francis, to which President Aliyev expressed gratitude and asked for his regards to be extended to the Pope. Recalling past visits, Aliyev mentioned Pope Francis's 2016 visit to Azerbaijan and his own 2020 visit to the Vatican, extending an invitation for Pope Francis to visit again. Archbishop Gallagher stated that the primary purpose of his visit was to consecrate land allocated for the construction of a Catholic church named after John Paul II. He thanked Aliyev for supporting the project, calling it a testament to the partnership between Azerbaijan and the Holy See, and noted its significance for Azerbaijan’s Catholic community.

Gallagher acknowledged the close ties between Azerbaijan’s Catholic community, government officials, and society, stating that these relations enhance Azerbaijan's international reputation. Aliyev noted that peaceful coexistence among different nationalities and religious groups strengthens Azerbaijan's stability and social harmony. He also highlighted Azerbaijan's role in promoting interfaith and intercultural dialogue, mentioning the country's hosting of international events to foster cooperation among different religions and cultures. Archbishop Gallagher congratulated Azerbaijan on the successful organization of COP29, where religious leaders appealed for climate change action.

Aliyev emphasized Azerbaijan’s role in facilitating climate-related discussions during COP29 and pointed to the successful outcomes of negotiations. Regional and international issues were also discussed, with President Aliyev affirming Azerbaijan's commitment to peace and stability in the South Caucasus. The situation in the Middle East was addressed, with Aliyev expressing Azerbaijan’s readiness to support humanitarian efforts for the Syrian people in coordination with Türkiye after the collapse of the Assad regime. The meeting concluded with Archbishop Gallagher presenting a keepsake to President Aliyev.

On the same day, Jeyhun Bayramov, Azerbaijan’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, met with Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher. An expanded session with delegations from both sides followed their one-on-one meeting. Discussions focused on strengthening bilateral and multilateral cooperation between Azerbaijan and the Holy See, as well as addressing regional and international security issues. Both sides welcomed the growing frequency of high-level visits. They emphasized their positive impact on political, cultural, and humanitarian cooperation.

Minister Bayramov highlighted Azerbaijan’s organization of COP29, which included the Global Baku Summit of World Religious Leaders. He provided Archbishop Gallagher with an update on Azerbaijan-Armenia post-conflict situation, including the peace process and the work of the delimitation commissions. Despite significant progress, Bayramov pointed to Armenia's continued territorial claims and rapid militarization as threats to regional peace and security. Archbishop Gallagher expressed gratitude for Azerbaijan's support in constructing the Catholic church dedicated to John Paul II and commended the conditions created for the project.