Pope visits Albania to highlight Christian-Muslim coexistence

Pope Francis arrives at Mother Teresa international airport in Tirana, Albania. (Alessandra Tarantino / Associated Press)

By Associated Press

Pope Francis arrives in Albania on his first European trip

Security is tight as Pope Francis visits Albania, a majority Muslim nation

Pope Francis arrived Sunday in Albania on his first European trip, designed to highlight the Balkan nation's path from a brutal communist state where religion was banned to a model of Christian-Muslim coexistence for a world witnessing conflict in God's name.

Security was tight for Francis' 11-hour visit to the majority Muslim nation amid reported threats from Islamic militants. While the Vatican insisted no special measures were being taken, Albania's Interior Ministry promised “maximum” protection from 2,500 police forces and beefed-up patrols at border crossings.

Believers arrive for Mass in Tirana, Albania. The pope is expected to highlight how Albania survived communist repression to become a model of interfaith harmony. (Armando Babani / European Pressphoto Agency)

 

Two children presented Francis with flowers as he arrived at Tirana's airport for a red-carpet welcome by Prime Minister Edi Rama.

The capital's main Boulevard Martyrs of the Nation was decorated with Albanian and Vatican flags, as well as pictures of 40 Catholic priests who were persecuted or executed under Stalinist dictator Enver Hoxha, who declared Albania the world's first atheist state in 1967. Hundreds of priests and imams were jailed, scores executed.

 

lRelated

During his brief visit, Francis is expected to highlight the experience of these martyrs and how Albania survived communist repression to become a model of interfaith harmony, where Christians and Muslims live and govern together.

Muslims make up about 59 percent of the population, with Catholics amounting to 10 percent and Orthodox Christians just under that.

Francis' decision to visit tiny Albania before any major European capital is in keeping with his desire for the Catholic Church to go to the “periphery.” Albania is seeking European Union membership and his visit comes just a few weeks before he delivers a major speech to the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France.

Note, SManalysis

(The religion estimates from the article of Association Press, is taken from Albanian Census 2011 contested by Orthodox Community of Albania. According to Census data, the Orthodox Community is 6.7% of total population of Albania, where according by orthodox church, the orthodox community is 24% of total population of 2.8 million people)