VATICAN CITY, December 15 /Dunyo IA/. At the Apostolic Palace of the Vatican, the new Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of the Republic of Uzbekistan to the Holy See, with residence in Madrid, Farrukh Tursunov, presented his credentials to Pope Leo XIV, reports Dunyo IA correspondent.

During the conversation following the ceremony, the ambassador informed the Pontiff about the large-scale political, economic, and social reforms being implemented in Uzbekistan, as well as steps taken to strengthen democratic institutions.

On behalf of President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev, sincere greetings and best wishes were conveyed to the Pope.

Pope Leo XIV expressed deep respect for the President and the people of Uzbekistan, noting that over the 33 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Vatican and Uzbekistan, a strong foundation for cooperation has been formed, aimed at promoting friendship and mutual understanding among people of different nationalities and faiths.

The Pontiff highlighted the significance of Samarkand as a major center of philosophical and religious thought, influencing both the East and the West. It was emphasized that Uzbekistan has traditionally supported the promotion of interfaith harmony and tolerance and actively backs international initiatives in this area.

At the conclusion of the meeting, Pope Leo XIV stated that he would pray for the well-being of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and the prosperity of the Uzbek people, expressing his wishes for further strengthening of friendship and constructive cooperation between the Holy See and Uzbekistan.

It is worth recalling that Farrukh Tursunov serves as the Ambassador of Uzbekistan to Spain, where he arrived on December 7, 2023. On April 9, 2024, he presented his credentials to King Felipe VI of Spain.

Additionally, the ambassador is concurrently accredited to Andorra, where on March 11, 2025, he presented his credentials to the Co-Prince of Andorra, President of France Emmanuel Macron.

Photo by Vatican Media