Pope Francis and Albanians, special links

Pope Francis’s first European trip was in small Albania, where the martyrdom of the Catholic Church of all the people was still felt, but where the force of interfaith coexistence was proven. The Holy Father Bergoglio told with facts that he really loved Albanians, whose bosom Mother Teresa came out, often mentioned in his homes and speeches

Republic of Albania; – Vatican

Pope Francis had a special connection with Albania and Albanians, whom he wanted to visit first in Europe. He often mentioned the Albanian sanctuary of charity, Mother Teresa, a landmark on how to stay in the world always in the moving church, conceived by the Holy Father as a field hospital, that is, as a place to heal wounds and comfort humanity, always for the way, never stopped, with deep roots in tradition.

Visits to Tirana

Even for the first visit of Pope Francis to Europe, the date was 21, like the one today, when the whole world mourns the loss of St. Peter’s descendant, but the month was different. It was September 21, 2014-just a few months after Bergoglio’s election and from the beginning of his papny-when the Pope went for a one-day visit to Tirana, with two goals: to pay homage to the Albanian martyrs of communism, who were persecuted not to deny Christ, « until sacrificed », as the Holy Father himself said; And, secondly, to point out the model of peaceful coexistence between religions in the homeland of Albanians, which is « brotherhood » – always underlined in Tirana – not just « tolerance ».

Even the motto, with which the bishops received, the clergy and the Catholic believers are somewhat to this year’s jubilee dedicated to hope, also proclaimed by Pope Francis. It was: « Together with God, to hope that does not disappoint. » The Holy Father, after receiving the presidential palace (then president, Bujar Nishani), celebrated Mass in Mother Teresa Square of Tirana, where he also said the angel of Nzot. Then, at the Catholic University of Our Lady of Good Counsel, met the leaders of various Christian and Muslim community names, Sunni and Bektashi. In the afternoon, at St. Paul’s Cathedral in Tirana, he spoke to the bishops, priests, nuns, regulars and Catholic seminarians, with his memorable embrace and tears while meeting the survivors of communism, Sister Maria Kaleta and Don Ernest Simon, now Cardinal. Finally, the greeting with the children of the Betania center, near Tirana, as well as with a representative of assists from the charitable centers of the Catholic Church throughout Albania, accompanied by volunteers.

Albania, Pope Francis said, is ‘the land of heroes, who sacrificed their lives for the independence of the country and the land of martyrs, who proved religion in times of persecution’ against the Catholic Church; He also remembered the attention that the civil authorities point to the Holy See, which, for its part – promised the Pope – will not lack the country in dialogue with religious beliefs and on the road to integration into the family of European peoples, where Albania not only receives, but also brings the values ​​that have distinguished it.

2016 was a special year of grace for Albanians. Pope Francis declared the Albanian charity missionary, Mother Teresa, on September 4, while his envoy, Cardinal Angelo Amato, the then Prefect of the Congregation on Saints, celebrated the Mass for the first 38 martyrs of communism in Albania, in Shkodra.

Mother Teresa, a saint known as such not only by Catholics but also by Hinduists, Buddhists, Taois, Shintoists, Muslims and Jews, was declared a river by Pope John Paul II in 2003.

« Its mission (of Mother Teresa) in the periphery of the cities and in the existential periphery remains, nowadays, clear evidence of the Lord’s proximity to the poorest among the poor. Today, I submit to the whole world of volunteers this emblematic figure of women and nuns: be your model of holiness! »

And then, in the popular way of speaking, characterizing her, the Pope added: « I think, maybe, we will find it a little difficult to call St. Teresa: her holiness is so close to us, so gentle and fruitful that we will spontaneously continue to call » Mother Teresa « . Free from any ideology and from all restrictions and sheds, regardless of language, culture, race or religion. for understanding and compassion. « 

It was always the Decree of Pope Francis who, on November 5 of that year, at St. Shtjefn’s Cathedral in Shkodra, made the altar honors and proclaimed all the first 38 Christian martyrs, persecuted, tortured and martyred during the effort of Enver Hoxha’s regime. Ten thousand believers participated in the Mass led by the Prefect of the Congregation on Saints’ Affairs, Cardinal Angelo Amato, the Pope of the Pope, who emphasized the values ​​of the Albanians who liked the Holy Father: “Even in the hell of an arbitrary and unjust persecution, the Albanian martyrs showed the same enemies: the resistance, the brotherhood, the mercy.

On the 550th anniversary of the death of George Kastriot

Two years later, on November 19, 2018, the Holy Father hosts a representative of Albanians from all areas inhabited by them in Albania, Kosovo, Montenegro and elsewhere on the occasion of the 550th anniversary of the death of George Kastriot-Skanderbeg, « Athleta Christi ». The event was organized by the Embassy of Albania at the Holy See, with the special care of the in charge of the then work, currently Ambassador Majlinda Frangaj. Even then, pointing out Kastriot’s deeds, the Pope did not miss to raise the Albanian people. « A few times in history – he said – a particular individual has embodied so clearly and so much the virtues of a people, to the point that it is difficult to understand the soul without stopping and taking into account the principles and values ​​that inspired that character. » The Pope had not forgotten to mention the year dedicated to Skanderbeg, and the Arberes of Italy, noting their connection to the land of origin. Giving his blessing to the attendees and to the Albanian people, with the memory of the Martyrs and Mother Teresa, the Pope, even then, left this message:

“I sincerely wish that this anniversary (550th anniversary of Skanderbeg’s death) should not only limit it to the celebration of the glory of past deeds, but also for Albania a favorable opportunity for a renewed commitment by all, institutions and citizens, in favor of true and balanced development, so that generations are not forced and forced by the country. indispensable for its human and civil development. « 

The 2019 earthquake

A year later, a very difficult year for Albania, due to the powerful earthquake, which especially destroyed the city of Durres and the village of Kodra-Thumana, the Pope’s opinion no further than the next day, during the November 27th audience, went to the « beloved people » of Albania.

« I want to send my greeting and closeness to the beloved Albanian people, who has suffered so much these days. Albania was the first country in Europe I wanted to visit.

Bishopric appointments

Pope Francis has always been attentive to the Catholic Church and the people in the Albanian territories, first, through the « ad limimi » visits of the bishops to the Vatican, during which the Holy Father has been periodically informed of the condition of believers and the people, in general. Then, through the appointments of the young bishops, such as Monsignor Gjergj Meta in Rrëshen (currently, president of the Bishopric Conference of Albania), Monsignor Arjan Dodaj as the Metropolitan Bishop of Tirana-Durres, Bishop Giovanni Peragine as a coadutor at the Metropolitan Archbishop of Shkodra.

And then, other meetings with believers in the Vatican, with representatives of various religious communities and heads of state and government from Albania, Kosovo, Montenegro, Macedonia … It was in the latter, during a visit to Mother Teresa’s Memorial, on May 7, 2019, Pope Francis blessed the first stone for the Saint, and the Saint, « Pray: Intercede with Christ, that we too can win the grace to be alert and attentive to the cry of the poor, those deprived of their rights, the sick, the last, the Lord. The hearts of those who suffer from injustice. Make our love not only a word, but to be fruitful and true, to prove reliably the church, which is obliged to preach the Gospel to the poor, the liberation of the captives, the joy of the shirts, the grace of redemption of all. «