Kazakhstan and Holy See Advocate for Open Dialogue for Global Peace
Kazakhstan-Vatican Relations Continue to Strengthen and Promote Peace
The diplomatic front in Kazakhstan has seen major activity in 2024, with President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev embarking on his first official visits to Italy and the Vatican. During the visit, discussions centered around a shared commitment to interreligious dialogue, a theme dear to both sides, noted Apostolic Nuncio to Kazakhstan Archbishop George Panamthundil in an interview with The Astana Times.
Promoting peace and stability amid conflicts and humanitarian crises was a key focus of the discussions between President Tokayev and Pope Francis during their meeting on Jan. 19 in the Vatican. Archbishop George Panamthundil emphasized the importance of global leaders coming together to address these pressing challenges, rather than adopting isolated approaches.
The diplomatic relations between the Holy See and Kazakhstan have a longstanding history, having been established 32 years ago. This partnership has been reinforced by mutual trust and recognition of shared aspirations for the well-being of Kazakhstan’s people and humanity at large.
One significant aspect of this partnership is a supplementary agreement signed in 2022 that simplifies the acquisition of stay permits in Kazakhstan for pastoral workers. This agreement underscores Kazakhstan’s commitment to issuing permanent residence permits to foreign Catholic priests and nuns, while the Catholic Church is dedicated to social projects that contribute to the betterment of society.
Apart from interreligious dialogue, cooperation in medicine and historical and archival research have been outlined in memorandums of understanding between Kazakhstan and the Vatican. Pope Francis’ visit to Astana in 2022 was a major event, signaling the Holy See’s desire to contribute to Kazakhstan’s efforts in promoting interfaith dialogue and global stability.
Archbishop George Panamthundil highlighted that religious dialogue is crucial in fostering peace and understanding between peoples and countries. The Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions, established on Kazakhstan’s initiative in 2003, serves as a platform for religious leaders to engage in dialogue, contributing to global stability.
The 25th anniversary of the establishment of the Orthodox diocese of Astana and Almaty was also celebrated this year, reaffirming the importance of religious unity and cooperation in Kazakhstan.
The visit to the Vatican by President Tokayev also included discussions with high-ranking Vatican officials, emphasizing the commitment to strengthening relations between the two countries.
As Kazakhstan continues to make strides in its diplomatic relations, the country and the Vatican share a common vision of fostering peace and understanding through dialogue, cooperation, and mutual respect.
