Pope Francis arrives in Albania to boosted security presence after threats flagged to Interpol from returning militants trained in Iraq and Syria
- Pope Francis touches down to red carpet welcome in Albanian capital Tirana
- Albania's Interior Ministry provides added protection of 2,500 police officers
- Police sniper teams and sniffer dogs used while border patrols also boosted
- Vatican has played down reports of threats to Pope from Muslim militants
- Pope says the country's inter-religious harmony is an 'inspiring example'
Pope
Francis has hailed Albania's shining example of Christian-Muslim
coexistence amid current global conflicts in which groups are
'perverting' religious spirit.
The Pope touched down in Albania this morning for a 11-hour visit with security tight amid threats from Islamic State militants.
While
the Vatican insisted no special measures were being taken, Albania's
Interior Ministry promised 'maximum' protection from 2,500 police and
beefed-up patrols at border crossings.
Pope Francis denounced how religion has been 'perverted' to justify violence.
Francis
told Prime Minister Edi Rama at the start of his 11-hour visit Sunday
that Albania's inter-religious harmony was an 'inspiring example' for
the world, showing that Christian-Muslim coexistence was not only
possible but beneficial for a country's development.
He
said: 'This is especially the case in these times in which authentic
religious spirit is being perverted by extremist groups, and where
religious differences are being distorted and instrumentalized.
'Let no one consider themselves to be the 'armor' of God while planning and carrying out acts of violence and oppression.'
Pope Francis arrives at Tirana's Mother Teresa international airport this morning to begin his day-long visit
Snipers watch on from a building roof as crowds gather below for the Holy Mass which will take place today
Pope Francis greets the media during an airborne press conference on his flight to Albania this morning
It
was reported Albanian law enforcement had flagged to Interpol concerns
that Muslim militants who trained in Iraq and Syria had returned and
might pose a threat to Pope Francis.
The Vatican has downplayed the reports, and Pope Francis has used the same open-topped vehicle he uses in St. Peter's Square.
That
said, even at the Vatican security has been beefed-up in recent days:
More barricades and police were out in force during Francis' weekly
general audience this past week and Italian media reported security had
been doubled.
Albanian
police said they had the situation under control, though security was
tight Sunday: People attending the pope's Mass were told to avoid
wearing heavy clothing since they would be checked by police and not to
bring bags, suitcases or glass bottles.
'There
is no threat to the pope's security. We have undertaken all the
measures and everything will go well,' police chief Artan Didi told
reporters after a meeting with Interior Minister Saimir Tahiri on final
security arrangements.
The Pope bends down to kiss a baby as he makes his way through the crowds upon his arrival in Albania
Thousands turned out to the streets this morning for Mass with Pope Francis
Left, a
police sniffer dog inspects the podium where Pope Francis will be seated
for the Holy Mass, while right, the greets the crowds who have gathered
to see him
It is Francis' first visit to a majority Muslim nation since the Islamic State crackdown on Christians in Iraq.
During
his visit, he will address Albanian authorities and an inter-religious
gathering, celebrate Mass in a square named for Albania's most famous
Catholic - Mother Teresa - and greet children cared for by charitable
groups.
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.
During this time, hundreds of priests and imams were jailed, scores executed.
Francis
paid tribute to these martyrs and those from other faiths, saying they
showed witness to their faith even under persecution.
'Recalling
the decades of atrocious suffering and harsh persecutions against
Catholics, Orthodox and Muslims, we can say that Albania was a land of
martyrs,' he said in his homily. Deviating from his text, Francis
thanked Albanians for their ancestors' sacrifice, recalling the national
symbol of the eagle.
'Do not forget your wounds, but don't avenge them,' he said. 'Go forward, flying on the hopes of a great future.'
Muslims
make up about 59 percent of the population, with Catholics amounting to
10 percent and Orthodox Christians just under that.
Believers arriving in the Albanian
capital of Tirana for today's Holy Mass which will be held in a city
square named after Mother Teresa
Crowds awaiting the Pope's appearance this morning where he will address an interreligious gathering
Pope Francis and Albanian President Bujar Nishani pictured side by side just after he first arrived in the country
The
Pope's 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.
The
visit also affords him a chance to visit a majority Muslim nation at a
time when Christians are being persecuted, killed and forced from their
homes by the Islamic State group in northern Iraq. The Vatican has
voiced mounting concern about the exodus of Christians from lands where
Christian communities have existed for 2,000 years.
Last
month the Pope, who has often condemned the concept of war in God's
name, said it would be legitimate for the international community to use
force to stop 'unjust aggression' by Islamic State militants who have
killed or displaced thousands of people in Iraq and Syria, many of them
Christians.
Despite some concerns over his safety, Pope Francis eagerly engaged with the Albanian crowds
Here he is carried through the crowd on his specially designed car known as the Popemobile
Pope Francis signs the guest book as he arrives at the Albanian Presidential Palace this morning
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