This encounter was a profound moment that reaffirmed the excellent and historic relationship between Albania and the Vatican.

Our relations are based on respect and shared values, as well as the appreciation for the contribution of the Holy See and the Holy Father to dialogue and cooperation for the protection of peace, well-being and security.

Speaker of the Assembly presented the Holy Father with a symbolic gift from Albania, a gesture embodying the deep friendship and respect of the Albanian people.

It recalled the historical ties between Albania and the Holy See, the figure of Pope Clement XI, John Francis Albani, of Albanian origin, and his contribution in support of the Albanian national efforts for freedom and independence.

Albania sets an example of harmony, tolerance and religious coexistence, values ​​that are part of our national identity and a valuable contribution to civilization.

Accompanying the Speaker of the Assembly to this meeting, there was a delegation composed by Deputy Speaker Agron Gjekmarkaj, MPs Iris Luarasi and Ermal Pacaj, as well as Ambassador of Albania to the Holy See Majlinda Frangaj. /gj.m/r.e/a.f/p.s./

Prime Minister Rama subsequently met with the Vatican’s Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, and Under-Secretary for Relations with States and International Organizations, Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, at the Secretariat of State.

Talks at Secretariat of State

“The conversations at the Secretariat of State were cordial and issues of common interest concerning relations between the ecclesial community and civil society were discussed,” according to a statement released by the Holy See Press Office.

Attention, the Vatican communiqué added, was also given to regional issues, “including the situation in the countries of the Western Balkans and Albania’s path toward full integration into the European Union.”

Accompanied by his wife Linda Rama, their son Zaho and an official delegation, Rama began his official visit to the Vatican on Wednesday at the invitation of the Holy See.

The programme includes visits to St Peter’s Basilica, the Stanza delle Lacrime, the Pauline Chapel, the Sala Regia, the Sistine Chapel and the altar of St John Paul II.

At the conclusion of the visit, Rama and his wife are scheduled to visit the tomb of Pope Francis at the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore.

The visit also includes additional meetings, among them talks with Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican’s Secretary of State.

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During the visit, Rama spent a moment in prayer, entrusting the Albanian people, families and youth to Our Lady of Good Counsel.

“Dear Mother of Good Counsel, so dearly loved by the sons and daughters of Albania, at home and abroad, today we come to You once again to entrust to You our people, our families, and our youth. You who are the Lady of Shkodër and of all Albania, guide us along the path of goodness; grant us light in our doubts and consolation in life’s trials. Under Your protection we seek refuge, O Blessed Virgin. Protect Albania, enlighten our minds, and make us ever faithful to Your Son, Jesus. O Lady of Good Counsel, pray for us!” the Prime Minister said in his prayer.

In his prayer, Rama appealed for guidance, protection and clarity, asking for Albania to be safeguarded and for wisdom and faith to be strengthened.

As part of his visit, the government head is scheduled to tour the Apostolic Palace at the Vatican, where he will be received in the San Damaso Courtyard by the prefect of the Papal Household and senior Vatican officials.

The reception will precede an audience with Pope Leo XIV, to be held at the Papal Library of the Apostolic Palace.

The agenda also includes visits to St Peter’s Basilica, the Stanza delle Lacrime, the Pauline Chapel, the Sala Regia, the Sistine Chapel and the altar of St John Paul II.

At the conclusion of their stay at the Vatican, Rama and his wife will visit the tomb of Pope Francis at the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore.

The visit will also include several additional meetings, including talks with Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican’s Secretary of State.

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The activity was organized by the Albanian Representation to the Holy See in collaboration with the Sovereign Military Order of Malta and brought together mayors from Arbëresh communes, diplomatic representatives, academics, researchers and lovers of Albanian culture.

Minister Gonxhja considered this activity “a special honor”, ​​emphasizing that Arbëresh culture is a powerful testimony of Albanian identity and resistance in Europe.

He presented the main projects that the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sports is developing to strengthen these ties, among them: the creation of the Albanian Cultural Center in Italy, the dossier for the inclusion of the “Great Year of the Arbëresh” in UNESCO and the establishment of the National Arbëresh Museum.

In this context, there was held a fair with the participation of 25 companies from Albania, mainly producers of olive oil, wines and traditional products, with the aim of creating new partnerships and promoting Albanian products in international markets.

On the other hand, Minister Salla stressed the significance of economic cooperation, especially in sectors such as viticulture, olive growing, livestock farming, agritourism and gastronomy.

The minister underlined the commitment of the Albanian government to strengthen relations with Arbëresh communities and expand institutional cooperation in the function of rural development and the promotion of a common cultural identity.

“Let this be another cornerstone day in building an even stronger relationship between Albania, the Arbëresh and Italy, a relationship where culture, agriculture, tradition and solidarity go hand in hand”, he stressed.

Both ministers emphasized the significance of deepening cooperation with Arbëresh communities, describing this event as a cornerstone in cultural and economic relations between Albania, the Arbëresh and Italy. /p.s./

The ceremony was attended by Albania’s Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, Igli Hasani; Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, Secretary for Relations with States at the Holy See; Riccardo Paternò di Montecupo, Chancellor and Foreign Minister of the Sovereign Order of Malta; representatives of the diplomatic corps accredited to the Holy See; and other officials.

In his speech, Foreign Minister Hasani described the new embassy as a symbol of strengthening relations between Albania and the Holy See, emphasizing their shared values of human dignity, respect for diversity, religious freedom, and social justice.

He added that the new diplomatic premises will support joint efforts to build bridges for a more peaceful and united world.

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Spiropali said that Buzuku’s “Missal” is the first book in our mother tongue, a publication that is at the same time a product of the European Renaissance.

Spiropali emphasized that this book is evidence of the links between the Albanian culture and this era of giants of the European culture.

“On the eve of the Day of the Alphabet, in the Apostolic Library of the Vatican, where the “Missal” of Gjon Buzuku is kept, the first book in our mother tongue, the publication that is at the same time a product of the European Renaissance. This is evidence of the links between the Albanian culture and this era of giants of the European culture, of that contribution that promotes us worthily among the peoples who have given to world culture and humanity”, said Spiropali. /a.f/r.e/p.s./

In her remarks at the event, Parliament Speaker said Pope Francis visited Albania to bless the long-suffering and surviving people, to praise the interfaith dialogue, to give hope and confidence to the Albanian people.

Praising Cardinal Ernest Simoni, who lived 28 years in prisons of communist Albania, Spiropali said that the sober-minded cardinal, with his soul at peace – as Pope Francis has portrayed him – is a living martyr of faith and freedom.”

“Vatican – 28 years in communist prisons. 96 today. Clear-minded and with his soul at peace, Cardinal Ernest Simoni is exactly the way Pope Francis has called him: a living martyr of religion and freedom. On the 10^th anniversary of Pope Francis’ visit to Albania, together we watched the screening of documentary ‘The Waiting’ by Roland Sejko. We experienced strong emotions of that unforgettable event, through the evidence of Albania’s path, from darkness to light,” Spiropali wrote in a post on the social media.

On September 21, 2014 Pope Francis chose Albania for his first European visit to “a country that has long suffered the ideologies of the past”. His voyage from Rome to Tirana lasts 50 years. A true dissection of the communist dictatorship and its war waged against freedom of thought and belief, the documentary makes use of historical footage juxtaposed to present day shootings, to tell a unique page of history of one of the only atheist country in the world through the narration of two protagonists: a Franciscan priest (who spent most of his life in prison) and a Cathedral (that became a sports palace.)

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Foreign Minister Hasani underlined that Albania-Vatican ties extend beyond institutional relations, as they are an inspiration for Albanians.

Foreign Minister and Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher discussed latest developments in the region, focusing on the need for dialogue and stability for the countries in the region to press ahead with their European integration.

Hasani attended the conference on Inter-Religious Dialogue and Fraternity, hosted by the Pontifical Gregorian University in collaboration with the Albanian Embassy in Vatican.

Ten years after His Holiness visit to Albania and five years after the agreement of the document on Human Fraternity for World Peace and Living Together, the pivotal role of inter-religious fraternity as guarantee for peace and the example that Albania provides in this regard are more important than ever.

“With Archbishop Gallagher we discussed our joint commitment to promoting religious fraternity globally and exchanged views on strengthening of collaboration between Albania and the Holy See in International Organizations,” Hasani said.

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At this very cordial meeting, President Osmani thanked Pope Francis for the continued care and attention that the Holy See and the Holy Father himself attach to Kosovo.

During the meeting, President Osmani also informed the Holy Father about Kosovo’s orientation as part of the early European civilization and the country’s vision for integration into the Euro-Atlantic bodies.

“Recognition of sacrifice lies at the foundation of faith in the future,” said the President. “The people of Kosovo have been resurrected from the ashes of this sacrifice of many a generation and their endeavours for freedom. Now Kosovo is securely building its future within the wide family of free nations. The recognition of Kosovo by the Holy See affects the further strengthening of our statehood and its integration into Euro-Atlantic structures. Kosovo’s aim for recognition by the Vatican contributes to the further expansion and advancement of our centuries-old relations as well as to the European path of our country,” said President Osmani.

President Osmani thanked Pope Francis for his decision taken in 2018 to upscale the Apostolic Administration of Kosovo to the level of a Diocese.

“On the fifth anniversary of your decision to upscale the status of the Apostolic Administration in Kosovo, upgrading it to the diocese level, I am very happy to be able to thank you personally for your care and assure you that our common values, on which our relations were historically created, will continue to remain a strong foundation of our relationship, which we intend to further expand,” said President Osmani.

Furthermore, President Osmani and Pope Francis discussed the relations between the two countries and the attention that the Vatican has shown toward our people, recognizing its civilizing values, which the world has seen embodied in the personality of Mother Teresa.

“Our relations date from very early on and are very powerful because they originate from the dedication to peace, tolerance and harmony between people. They have traditionally united us,” said President Osmani. She recalled that in the 1990s, when the nation’s existence was threatened, Kosovo led by President Rugova also found inspiration in the demeanour of Pope John Paul II, and in the efforts by the Vatican to preserve and promote civilizing values and freedom of nations”.

Furthermore, Madam President also spoke about the progress achieved in Kosovo, with special emphasis on the functioning of the religious communities in Kosovo and the determination of the state of Kosovo to recognize and further promote religious freedoms.

Today, President Osmani will also be received by the Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Parolin.

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Most Reverend Eminence,

Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen ambassadors and members of the Diplomatic Corps,

Reverend Fathers and Reverend Mothers,

Dear Priests, Religious and Devotees,

Ladies and gentlemen,

I am happy to find myself in these venues, in the Eternal City, “Mater et Magistra”, where Pope Francis will receive me tomorrow for the second time together with my spouse Linda and my son Zaho, who was still in his mother’s womb when the Holy Father welcomed us for the first time.

The grace of that meeting will remain eternally indelible in my memory, followed by the visit of His Holiness to Albania – his first trip abroad as the new Pontiff of the Catholic Church.

I remember that he was received with immense affection by thousands and thousands of Albanians, Catholic, Orthodox and Muslim believers gathered at Mother Teresa square to welcome Him to the land of religious brotherhood, as he himself defined it impeccably on that occasion.

In a song of degrees, Psalm 133, King David says:

“Behold, how good and how pleasant

 it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!

It is like the precious ointment upon the head,

that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron’s beard:

 that went down to the skirts of his garments.”

I would like to remind you today on this good occasion that the Catholic Church has been doing brotherhood deeds in our country over the centuries.

This is always a reason to be grateful for the good will that faith and the commitment to serve others, especially the poorest, give birth and grow.

I find it difficult to express the deserved gratitude to the Church and Catholics, be them either Albanians or foreigners, men and women, priests or ordinary faithful who do so much to improve the lives of the most needy or to educate young people.

But today more than ever so, in the presence of His Eminence in particular, I would like to say thank you for the brotherhood that for 30 years now has united the Holy See and the Republic of Albania on the international arena.

In fact, diplomatic relations between our two states were established 30 years ago today and on this auspicious day of celebration of an authentic jubilee, I think it is a duty to pay tribute with deep gratitude to the diplomats who honoured Albania’s diplomatic representation to the Holy See and sadly enough they are no longer with us.

I am obviously referring to Willy Kamsi, Pjeter Pepa and Rrok Logu.

It is with gratitude and affection that we always keep in our hearts the memory of the late Cardinal Ivan Diaz, the first Apostolic Nuncio in Albania, daring evangelizer of nations, without forgetting his successors, Archbishops Bulaitis, Moliner Ingles, Charles John Brown and Monsignor Luigi Bonazzi who currently serves as head of the Apostolic Nunciature in our country.

Although diplomats, they were and still are, together with their associate, “humble workers in the vineyard of the Lord”, as a great figure of religious thought, Benedict XVI, would have said.

Humble, but also visionary workers; this is the idea I have created about people who for three decades long have contributed to strengthen, indeed to merge the special relations between the Holy See and Albania into a kind of symbiosis.

Among these humble and visionary, I would feel free to add Your Eminence. You have not wasted a single opportunity to show respect, closeness and affection to Albania in any circumstances.

You have always done so with the dignity and humanity of your own purpose to instruct, to serve and to support as Saint Paul would say.

I would avail myself of this opportunity to publicly reiterate here what the Albanian authorities have repeatedly told you at business meetings: the quality of our relations owes much to the wisdom of your choices and the spirit of collaboration that His Eminence knows how to inspire and share.

We still see its fruits: a common commitment on a future agreement with the Bambin Gesù hospital to ensure free treatment of Albanian children suffering from serious diseases and the construction of the first church dedicated to Saint Mother Teresa in Albania, through a gift of a land plot by the government of Albania land in Tirana.

The sanctuary will be an important meeting point for hundreds of thousands of faithful from all over the world and a constant appeal not to forget the poor.

We are well aware that the poor and the marginalized are the focus of the Pope’s thoughts and of this pontificate. The last two years we have focused on them.

Divine Providence called us back to duty first through a disastrous earthquake two years ago, and then with the pandemic emergency.

Furthermore, the Afghan refugee crisis has offered us an opportunity to demonstrate how the virtues of charity and closeness to others must be observed.

Albania was one of the first countries, if not the first, to open up its doors wide to thousands of Afghans in need.

We did not ignore the plea for help but we tried to share with them everything we could as we have always done throughout our history: with the Jews during the Second World War, with the Kosovo Albanians during the war with Serbia and with the persecuted Iranians fleeing the war in their own country.

It is important for us not only to welcome those at the crossroads between life and death, but, above all, to treat them as our own family members so that they feel human beings, fully possessing their dignity, and not as remnants of a civilization like ours that is struggling to acknowledge it duties when it feels its comfort is being disturbed.

We are shaking hands and working together with the Catholic Church in Albania, with Caritas, with Malteser, and with the assistance of the universal Church to help the poor through various common projects.

These projects are also aimed at our new generations, to invite them to reflect on Christian values ​​such as solidarity, charity and respect for others not only as abstract universal values ​​but also as imperatives to carry out concrete deeds.

We won’t stop working on these common projects, a daily manifestation of our harmony, although my speech is coming to an end.

But before I conclude, I would still like to thank His Eminence and through You, all pontifical diplomacy for the magnificent work done over 30 years to create and consolidate the relationship between the Holy See and Albania in such a lively way.

We know this relation was brutally halted for so many years by a regime that above all, and more than anyone else, did the most extreme harm to Catholics and faithful of this religion.

On this auspicious day, almost on the eve of our national holiday, on the triple anniversary of the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Holy See and Albania, the 150th anniversary of the birth of the great Albanian Franciscan, Father Gjergj Fishta, of the third centenary of the birth of Clement XI Albani, the so-called Albanian Pope, and in the presence of so many distinguished and prominent guests, I feel honoured to confer you the highest award granted by the Prime Minister of Albania, that is the insignia of the Grand Cordon with “Benemerenti” Star, modelled on our national colours and Skanderbeg’s weapons, “Athleta Christi”.

Thank you!