<Ul> <Li> Georgia and Azerbaijan (30 September to 2 October 2016) </Li> </Ul> <Li> Georgia and Azerbaijan (30 September to 2 October 2016) </Li> <Dl> <Dd> It was reported in early 2016 that a potential visit to Georgia and Azerbaijan could take place in September 2016 alongside a possible trip to Armenia . It was later reported that it was still in the initial planning phases and that nothing was set concretely . It was announced in a press bulletin of 9 April 2016 that the pope would visit those countries from 30 September to 2 October after receiving formal invitations from the civic authorities and Ilia II of Georgia . The pontiff's journey began on Friday in Georgia, where he was met at the airport by Patriarch Ilia II, the head of the Georgian Orthodox Church . While in Georgia, Pope Francis reached out to the Georgian church, despite an apparent snub by Orthodox leaders who declined to attend a Mass he held Saturday in a largely empty stadium in the Georgian capital, Tbilisi, after they also discouraged followers from attending . The apparent courtship extended to comments on marriage in which he embraced ideas held dear by the Georgian Orthodox Church . Without addressing homosexuality directly, he criticized "ideological colonization"--shorthand for the influence of foreign ideas on traditional values--for contributing to an assault on the institution of marriage . In a visit to Georgia's predominantly Muslim neighbor Azerbaijan, the pope focused on interreligious dialogue and tolerance, steering clear of direct criticism against the increasingly authoritarian presidency of Ilham Aliyev . Under Mr. Aliyev, Azeri authorities have arrested scores of human - rights workers and members of political opposition groups, and have worked to cut local rights groups off from foreign funding while boosting the president's power . In an address to the president, the pope emphasized the importance of not "abusing the rights of others who have different ideas and perspectives," but otherwise praised the leader for efforts to promote civic growth . </Dd> </Dl> <Dd> It was reported in early 2016 that a potential visit to Georgia and Azerbaijan could take place in September 2016 alongside a possible trip to Armenia . It was later reported that it was still in the initial planning phases and that nothing was set concretely . It was announced in a press bulletin of 9 April 2016 that the pope would visit those countries from 30 September to 2 October after receiving formal invitations from the civic authorities and Ilia II of Georgia . The pontiff's journey began on Friday in Georgia, where he was met at the airport by Patriarch Ilia II, the head of the Georgian Orthodox Church . While in Georgia, Pope Francis reached out to the Georgian church, despite an apparent snub by Orthodox leaders who declined to attend a Mass he held Saturday in a largely empty stadium in the Georgian capital, Tbilisi, after they also discouraged followers from attending . The apparent courtship extended to comments on marriage in which he embraced ideas held dear by the Georgian Orthodox Church . Without addressing homosexuality directly, he criticized "ideological colonization"--shorthand for the influence of foreign ideas on traditional values--for contributing to an assault on the institution of marriage . In a visit to Georgia's predominantly Muslim neighbor Azerbaijan, the pope focused on interreligious dialogue and tolerance, steering clear of direct criticism against the increasingly authoritarian presidency of Ilham Aliyev . Under Mr. Aliyev, Azeri authorities have arrested scores of human - rights workers and members of political opposition groups, and have worked to cut local rights groups off from foreign funding while boosting the president's power . In an address to the president, the pope emphasized the importance of not "abusing the rights of others who have different ideas and perspectives," but otherwise praised the leader for efforts to promote civic growth . </Dd>

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