#PopeVisitsAlbania - A retrospective view on the visit of Pope John Paul II in Albania (April 25, 1993): The visit of Pope Francesco to Albania is taking place 21 years after the visit of Pope John Paul II in this country. We are bringing to the memory some of the key moments of the visit of Pope John Paul II in our country during that time. On April 25, 1993 at around 08: 00 A.M the Pope John Paul II arrived at the International Airport in Rinas, hosted by Albanian authorities. After he greeted the participants, the Pope John Paul II sat on his knees and kissed the Albanian land. He addressed to the Albanian people with the words: “I know all the sad events that you had to face especially in the last 25 years, years of a genuine effort, the consequences of which time will hardly manage to erase”. After a while, the head of the Holy See launched His travelling towards the city of Shkodra and was warmly received by residents of the suburbs of this city. At 11: 45 the Pope John Paul II entered to the cathedral of Shkodra, welcomed by the thousands of Catholic and other religions believers. He went in front of the altar for the beginning of the mass. In the message of Pope John Paul II emphasized the difficult past that the Catholic Church had experienced during the communist regime in Albania. Later, He consecrated four new Albanian bishops, Monsignor Frano Ilia, Monsignor Zef Simoni, Monsignor Rrok Mirdita and Monsignor Robert Ashta. The first communion by Pope John Paul II under the sound of church music was to Mother Teresa the world humanist by Albanian origin. The Pope John Paul II gifted to Shkodra believers and all Albania, the figure of Lady of Good Counsel and blessed the foundation’s stone of this cult, to be rebuilt for the third time at Rozafa Castle in Shkodra. From the window of the Archbishopric building of Shkodra the Pope greeted all the people who filled the streets and squares of Shkodra city. On the same day, Pope John Paul II returned to Tirana and was hosted by the highest officials of the state and religious communities in Albania in the premises of the Palace of the Brigades. Further, He went to the Apostolic Nunciatura and later held a trip at the “Skanderbeg” square where thousands of people had gathered from all over Albania. In the big meeting organized on this occasion, the Pope John Paul II accommodated on the podium close to the National Historical Museum in Tirana. He addressed to Albanian people with the words: “Albanian brothers and sisters beloved! God save your homeland. God defend the Albanian people worldwide. On the name of God I enfold and bless you!” At the end of His visit, the Pope John Paul II left Albania in the evening.
Posted on: Thu, 18 Sep 2014 21:00:00 +0000
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