On March 13, the President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev congratulated the Head of the Roman Catholic Church Pope Francis on the Vatican’s public holiday – Anniversary of his election, the presidential press service reports.

For information, this year Pope Francis marks the 6th anniversary of his election by the papal conclave as Bishop of Rome and leader of the Catholic Church.

Pope Francis is the 266th Pope and replaced Pope Benedict XVI who had been pope since 2005, but had unexpectedly resigned on 28 February 2013.