Vatican City, 21 September 2014 (VIS) –
This morning Pope Francis began his visit to Tirana, Albania - his
fourth apostolic trip and the second by a pontiff to the “Land of
the Eagles”. The first was by John Paul II in 1993, two years after the fall of the dictatorship and following the establishment of diplomatic
relations between the Holy See and the Republic of Albania. On that
occasion, the Pope celebrated Mass in the Cathedral of Scutari, which
had been transformed into a sports centre under the communist regime,
and he blessed the first stone for the reconstruction of the Shrine
to Our Lady of Good Counsel, built in 1895 and demolished in 1967. In
Tirana in recent years both the Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus
of the Jesuit Fathers and the Orthodox Cathedral of the Resurrection
of Christ have been rebuilt.
The Holy Father, who departed from
Rome's Fiumicino airport at 7.30 a.m., arrived in Tirana at 9 a.m.
and was received at the aerodrome dedicated to Mother Teresa by
representatives of the religious and civil authorities, including the
apostolic nuncio in Albania, Archbishop Ramiro Moliner Ingles, and
the Albanian prime minister Edi Rama. He proceeded by car to the
presidential palace of Tirana, where the welcome ceremony took place,
and he was greeted by the Albanian president, Bujar Nishani.
Following a brief discussion, the president accompanied the Pope to
the Salon Scanderberg for a meeting with the authorities, the
diplomatic corps, and some of the country's religious leaders.
In his address to those present, the
full text of which is published below, the Holy Father spoke about
Albania's path to recovering civil liberties and religious freedom,
warning of the exploitation of differences between religions and
praising the peaceful co-existence and collaboration between those of
different religious beliefs in Albania.
“I am very happy to be here with you,
in this noble land of Albania, a land of heroes who sacrificed their
lives for the independence of the nation, and a land of martyrs, who
witnessed to their faith in difficult times of persecution. I am
grateful for the invitation to visit your country, called 'the Land
of the Eagles', and for your warm welcome.
“Almost a quarter of a century has
passed since Albania re-embarked upon the arduous but rewarding path
of freedom. This experience has allowed Albanian society to take up
the process of material and spiritual reconstruction, to foster an
increase of enthusiasm and initiatives, and to create a spirit of
cooperation and exchange with countries of the Balkans, the
Mediterranean, Europe and indeed with the rest of the world. This
rediscovered freedom has helped you look to the future with trust and
hope, establishing new projects and renewing friendly relations with
countries both near and far.
“Respect for human rights, among
which religious freedom and freedom of expression stand out, is the
preliminary condition for a country’s social and economic
development. When the dignity of the human person is respected and
his or her rights recognised and guaranteed, creativity and
interdependence thrive, and the potential of the human personality is
unleashed through actions that further the common good.
“There is a rather beautiful
characteristic of Albania, one which is given great care and
attention, and which gives me great joy: I am referring to the
peaceful coexistence and collaboration that exists among followers of
different religions. The climate of respect and mutual trust between
Catholics, Orthodox and Muslims is a precious gift to the country.
This is especially the case in these times where an authentic
religious spirit is being perverted and where religious differences
are being distorted and exploited. This creates dangerous
circumstances which lead to conflict and violence, rather than being
an occasion for open and respectful dialogue, and for a collective
reflection on what it means to believe in God and to follow his laws.
“Let no one use God as a 'shield'
while planning and carrying out acts of violence and oppression! May
no one use religion as a pretext for actions against human dignity
and against the fundamental rights of every man and woman, above all,
the right to life and the right of everyone to religious freedom!
“What the experience in Albania
shows, rather, is that a peaceful and fruitful coexistence between
persons and communities of believers of different religions is not
only desirable, but possible and realistic. The peaceful coexistence
of different religious communities is, in fact, an inestimable
benefit to peace and to harmonious human advancement. This is
something of value which needs to be protected and nurtured each day,
by providing an education which respects differences and particular
identities, so that dialogue and cooperation for the good of all may
be promoted and strengthened by mutual understanding and esteem. It
is a gift which we need to implore from God in prayer. May Albania
always continue to walk this path, offering an inspiring example to
other countries.
“Mr President, after a winter of
isolation and persecution, the springtime of freedom has finally
come. By means of free elections and new institutional structures, a
democratic pluralism has been consolidated which is now favouring
economic activity. Many people, especially at the beginning, chose to
emigrate in search of work and a better standard of living, and in
their own way contributed to the advancement of Albanian society.
Many others rediscovered reasons for staying in their homeland,
wanting to build it up from within. The efforts and sacrifices of all
have improved the life of the nation in general.
“The Catholic Church, for her part,
has resumed a normal existence, re-establishing her hierarchy and
rejoining the threads of a long tradition. Places of worship have
been built or rebuilt. Among these, the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Good
Counsel at Scutari holds a special place. Similarly, schools and
centres of education and healthcare have been established for use by
all citizens. The presence of the Church and her activities are
therefore rightly seen as a service, not only to the Catholic
community, but rather to the whole nation.
“Blessed Mother Teresa, together with
the martyrs who witnessed to their faith – to whom we pray and
offer our appreciation – most certainly are rejoicing in heaven
because of the work of men and women of good will who contribute to
the flourishing of civil society and the Church in Albania.
“Today, however, new challenges arise
which must be faced. In a world that tends toward economic and
cultural globalization, every effort must be made to ensure that
growth and development are put at the service of all and not just
limited parts of the population. Furthermore, such development will
only be authentic if it is sustainable and just, that is, if it has
the rights of the poor and respect for the environment close to
heart. Alongside the globalisation of the markets there must also be
a corresponding globalisation of solidarity; together with economic
growth there must be a greater respect for creation; alongside the
rights of individuals, there must be the guaranteed rights of those
who are a bridge between the individual and the state, the family
being the first and foremost of such institutions. Today Albania is
able to face these challenges in an atmosphere of freedom and
stability, two realities which must be strengthened and which form
the basis of hope for the future”.
“I offer my heartfelt thanks to each
of you for your gracious welcome, and, like Saint John Paul II in
April 1993, I invoke upon Albania the protection of Mary, Mother of
Good Counsel, entrusting to her the hopes of the entire Albanian
people. May God abundantly pour out his grace and blessing upon
Albania”.
Following his address the Pope
continued to Mother Teresa Square where he celebrated Holy Mass.
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