Accompanied by his wife Linda and son Zaho, the prime minister visited this basilica where the image of Our Lady of Good Counsel is placed on a piece detached from the wall of the Church of Shkodra in the distant year 1467.

“Since then, no Albanian head of state or government has crossed the threshold of the basilica, where our national flag always stands next to Our Lady of Albania, and where almost all the Popes of Rome have made visits and rituals”, said the prime minister, while also sharing a photo album from this visit.

Rama also reminded that the first thing that Pope Leo XVI did as soon as he was elected was to come and pray in Genazzano to Our Lady of Albania, who is also called Regina di Albania – Queen of Albania.

The prime minister is also scheduled to visit the Apostolic Palace of the Vatican, where he will meet in the “San Damaso” courtyard Prefect of the Papal Household and His Holiness’ Gentleman.

Later on, PM Rama will be granted an audience by Pope Leo XIV, in the Papal Library of the Apostolic Palace.

The visit will then continue to St. Peter’s Basilica, in the Stanza delle Lacrime, Cappella Paolina, Sala Reggia, Sistina and at the altar of St. John Paul II.

At the end of their stay in the Vatican, PM Rama and his wife will visit the burial place of Pope Francis in the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore. Part of this visit will also be several other meetings, including a meeting with Cardinal Pietro Parolini, Vatican Secretary of State. /j.p/p.s./