A New Ambassador of Uzbekistan Accredited at the Vatican
At the Apostolic Palace of the Vatican, the newly appointed Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Uzbekistan to the Holy See, with residence in Madrid, Farrukh Tursunov, presented his Letters of Credence to the Head of the Roman Catholic Church, Pope Leo XIV.
During the conversation that followed the ceremony, the Ambassador briefed the Pontiff on the large-scale reforms being implemented in Uzbekistan in the political, economic, and social spheres, as well as on measures aimed at strengthening democratic institutions.
On behalf of the President of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, the Pope was conveyed sincere greetings and best wishes.
Pope Leo XIV expressed deep respect for the President and the people of Uzbekistan. He noted that over the 33 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Vatican and Uzbekistan, a solid foundation for cooperation has been formed, focused on strengthening friendship and mutual understanding among representatives of different nationalities and faiths.
The Pontiff paid special attention to the significance of Samarkand as a major center of philosophical and religious thought, influencing both the Eastern and Western worlds. It was emphasized that Uzbekistan has traditionally advocated the promotion of interfaith harmony and tolerance and actively supports international initiatives in this field.
Concluding 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 the further strengthening of friendship and constructive cooperation between the Holy See and Uzbekistan.
It should be recalled that Farrukh Tursunov has served as Ambassador of Uzbekistan to Spain since his arrival in Madrid on 7 December 2023. On 9 April 2024, he presented his Letters of Credence to King Felipe VI of Spain.
In addition, the diplomat concurrently serves as Ambassador of Uzbekistan to Andorra. On 11 March 2025, he presented his Letters of Credence to the Co-Prince of Andorra, President of France Emmanuel Macron.
Photo: Vatican Media
