{UAH} The Pope's very triumphant short visit to Albania

Pope Francis spent Sunday 21st September in Tirana ( Albania's capital).

He went to the small country with a view to appreciate the excellent co-existence between

all religious groups in the country  and to show support to a nation which has had a very difficult

past especially along the years it was officially declared an atheist nation, and to honour its martyrs

some 40 of whom are being slated for canonization! 

Now things have changed for the better and Albania has been qualified as a model to emulate and to copy from!

The country's three million people ( 15% Catholic) showed enthusiasm about the Pope's visit. And the pontiff

has been cheered by hundreds of thousands of people wherever he has been. The people have regarded this

visit as a boost for the image of their country.. And the bad weather didn't prevent them from pouring very massivelyu

on the streets to chher their holy visitor.

The Pope arrived at Mother Teresa International Airport ( Tirana ) at 7.45am. he was received by the Prime Minister and

some other cabinet Ministers. He was then driven to the Presidential Palace where he had talks with the President.

From there he went to Mother Teresa Square where he said Mass before tens of thousands of people who included the

civil authorities and the representatives of the various religious groups in the country and pilgrims from neighbouring countries

including Kosovo. The Pope in his sermon revisted the history of this country and commended its courage that enabled it to

overcome all those difficulties. Turning to the youth, he encouraged them to reject the culture that leads to the idolatory and greed 

for money, violence, etc.. and called on them to be faithful even in the smallest things. 

Before he recited with the vast congregation the Angelus prayer followed by words of thanks for their presence and then his

 final blessing, the Pope listened very attentivelyto the Archbishop of Tirana who thanked him for having accepted the invitation to

 Albania. He was also very attentive to the words of the priest in-charge of organizing the visit. He assured the Pope how the people 

of Albania have fully rejected the Communist ideology as well as the philosophy of consumer society. And he brought to his attention 

how Albania needed his counsel, words, and style! 

After Mass the Pope was driven in an open popemobile to the nunciature where he had lunch and a short rest. Hundreds of thousands of

people lined along streets to cheer and applaud him. Idem when he went later on to the Catholic University of Tirana to meet various religious

leaders before whom he insisted on the originality of religion as being seen in the source of the effort to promote peace and not to engage

in violence.

Before flying back to Rome late in the evening, the Pope visited an orphanage for  handicapped children. and had sympathetic words addressed

to them.

Albania impressed! And religion there inspires a lot from the courage of the people and the cult extended to Blessed Mother Teresa who is a

humble respected daughter of the nation.

Dr G.H. Kkolokolo ( Paris / France )